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N$40.00WINDHOEK – 30 December 2004No.3362
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
OF THE
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
CONTENTS
Page
GOVERNMENT NOTICE
No. 288Promulgation of Companies Act, 2004 (Act No.28 of 2004), of the
Parliament ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
_______________
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
No. 288 2004
PROMULGATION OF ACT
OF PARLIAMENT
The following Act which has been passed by the Parliament and signed by the President
in terms of the Namibian Constitution is hereby published in terms of Article 56 of that
Constitution.
No. 28 of 2004: Companies Act, 2004.
_______________
Government Notice

2Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
ACT
To provide for the incorporation, management and liquidation of companies;
and to provide for incidental matters.
(Signed by the President on 19 December 2004)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
CHAPTER 1
INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF ACT
1. Definitions
2. General application of Act
3. Application of Act restricted
CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT
Part 1
Companies Registration Office and Registrar
4. Companies Registration Office and register
5. Seal of Companies Registration Office
6. Appointment of Registrar, Deputy Registrar and delegation of power
7. Exemption from liability
8. Inspection and copies of documents in Companies Registration Office
9. Manner of payment of fees to Companies Registration Office
10. Annual report by Registrar
Part 2
Powers of Court and Procedure
11. Security for costs in legal proceedings by companies and bodies corporate
12. Copies of Court orders to be transmitted to Registrar and Master
Part 3
Regulations and Notices
13. Regulations
14. Prohibition of disclosure of, and exemption from obligation to disclose, certain
information
15. Notices amending or adding to Schedules
Part 4
Standing Advisory Committee
16. Establishment of Standing Advisory Committee
17. Functions and powers of SAC
18. Tenure of office
19. Administration, finance and procedures of SAC

No.3362 3Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
CHAPTER 3
TYPES AND FORMS OF COMPANIES, CONVERSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
ON PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Part 1
Types of Companies
20. Companies having share capital and companies not having share capital
21. Non-profit associations
22. Meaning of "private company" and cessation of its privileges
23. Incorporation of certain branches of foreign companies and non-profit associations
Part 2
Conversion of Companies
24. Conversion of public company, having share capital into private company, and
vice versa
25. Conversion of company into incorporated non-profit association or company
limited by guarantee
26. Conversion of company limited by guarantee into company having share capital
27. Conversion of unlimited company
28. Notice of intended conversion of company
29. Contents and form of articles on conversion
30. Registration of conversion
31. Effect of conversion and alteration of other registers
Part 3
Conversion of Companies and Close Corporations
32. Conversion of company into close corporation
33. Conversion of close corporation into company
34. Effect of conversion of close corporation into company
Part 4
Limitations on Partnerships and Associations for Gain
35. Prohibition of associations or partnerships exceeding 20 members and exemption
36. Unregistered associations carrying on business for gain not corporate bodies
CHAPTER 4
FORMATION, OBJECTS, CAPACITY, POWERS, NAMES, REGISTRATION
AND INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES, INCIDENTAL MATTERS AND
DEREGISTRATION
Part 1
Formation, Capacity, Powers and Objects
37. Mode of forming company
38. Capacity, powers and objects
39. Ancillary objects and powers of company
40. Dealings between company and other persons
41. No constructive knowledge
42. Power as to pre-incorporation contracts
43. Loans made and security provided by subsidiary
44. No financial assistance to purchase shares of company or holding company
45. Company not to be member of its holding company
46. No division into interests, rights to profits or shares in guarantee companies

4Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
Part 2
Names of Companies
47. Names of companies not to be undesirable
48. Reservation of name
49. Registration of shortened form of name or defensive name
50. Change of name and effect
51. Order to change name
52. Provisions as to order to change name
53. Registrar may call for affidavits and must give reasons for decisions as to names
54. Recourse to Court in matters as to names
55. Formal requirements as to names of companies
56. Use and publication of name by company
57. Improper use of word "Limited" or "Incorporated" an offence
58. Savings regarding certain existing name registrations
Part 3
Memorandum of Association
59. Requirements for memorandum of association
60. Memorandum may contain special conditions and provide for unlimited liability
of directors
61. Form and signing of memorandum
Part 4
Alteration of Memorandum
62. Alteration of memorandum as to special conditions and other provisions
63. Lodgment of altered memorandum
Part 5
Articles of Association
64. Companies to have articles
65. Form and signing of articles
66. Consolidation of articles
67. Alteration of articles
Part 6
Registration, Incorporation and Deregistration
68. Registration of memorandum and articles
69. Memorandum and articles to be in official language
70. Certificate of incorporation and its evidential value
71. Effect of incorporation on company and members
72. Liability of members where membership reduced below minimum
73. Rights of members to copies of memorandum and articles
74. Cancellation of registration of memorandum and articles
Part 7
Incidental Matters
75. Issued copies of memorandum or articles to embody alterations
76. Contracts by companies
77. Promissory notes and bills of exchange
78. Service of documents on companies
79. Arbitration between companies and others

No.3362 5Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
CHAPTER 5
SHARE CAPITAL, ACQUISITION BY COMPANIES OF OWN SHARES,
SHARES, ALLOTMENT AND ISSUE OF SHARES, MEMBERS AND
REGISTER OF MEMBERS, DEBENTURES, TRANSFER AND
RESTRICTIONS ON OFFERING SHARES FOR SALE
Part 1
Share Capital
80. Division of share capital into shares having par value or having no par value
81. Company may alter share capital and shares
82. Premiums received on issue of shares to be share capital, and limitation on
application
83. Proceeds of issue of shares of no par value to be stated capital
84. Effect of conversion of par value share capital into no par value share capital and
vice versa
85. Payment of interest out of capital in certain cases
86. Restriction of power to pay commission and discounts
87. Issue of shares of par value at discount
88. Issue price of shares of no par value requiring special resolution
Part 2
Acquisition by Companies of own Shares
89. Approval of acquisition of own shares by special resolution
90. Company to be solvent
91. Consequences of acquisition with regard to shares
92. Liability of shareholders under certain circumstances
93. Procedure of acquisition of certain shares by company
94. Enforceability of contracts for acquisition by company of certain shares
95. Subsidiaries may acquire certain shares in holding company
96. Payments to shareholders
Part 3
Shares and Allotment and Issue
97. Nature of shares and payment for shares
98. Uncertificated securities
99. Register and return as to allotments
100. Certificate of shares or stock
101. Numbering of shares and share certificates
102. Limitation of time for issue of share certificates
103. Validation of irregular creation, allotment or issue of shares
104. Redeemable preference shares
105. Conversion of shares into certain preference shares
106. Conversion of shares into stock
107. Share warrants to bearer
108. Variation of rights in respect of shares
109. No offer of shares for sale to public without statement
Part 4
Members and Register of Members
110. Members of company
111. Trusts in respect of shares
112. Register of members
113. Index to register of members
114. Branch registers in foreign countries

6Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
115. Provisions as to branch register
116. Register of members to be evidence
117. Where register of members to be kept
118. Disposal of closed accounts in register
119. Offences in respect of register of members
120. Inspection of register of members
121. Power to close register of members
122. Rectification of register of members
Part 5
Debentures
123. Creation and issue of debentures
124. Security for debentures
125. Registration of bonds and annexure to bonds and deeds of pledge
126. Debenture itself may be registered
127. Issue of debentures at different dates and ranking of preference
128. Rights of debenture holders
129. Director or officer not to be trustee for debenture holders
130. Liability of trustee for debenture holders
131. Power to re-issue redeemed debentures in certain cases
132. Debenture to be described as secured or unsecured
133. Form of debentures or debenture certificates
134. Register of pledges and bonds
135. Register of debenture holders
136. Registers may be kept where made up
137. Inspection of registers and copies and extracts
138. Failure to keep registers
Part 6
Forgery of Certificates as to Shares, Debentures and other Securities
139. Forgery, impersonation and unlawful engravings
Part 7
Transfer of Shares and Debentures
140. Registration of transfer of shares or interests
141. Definitions for purpose of transfer of listed shares or interests
142. Manner in which securities may be transferred
143. Certification by company that security has been lodged for transfer
144. Duty of company with reference to person under contractual disability
145. Warranty and indemnity by persons lodging documents of transfer
146. Notice of refusal to register transfer and limitation of time for issue of certificates
on transfer
147. Disclosure of beneficial interest in securities
CHAPTER 6
OFFERING OF SHARES AND PROSPECTUS
Part 1
Interpretation
148. Definitions for purposes of offering of shares and prospectus
Part 2
Offers to Public
149. Restrictions on offers to public

No.3362 7Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
150. Offers not being offers to public
151. No offer for subscription to public without prospectus
152. Approval by stock exchange requirement for letters of allocation
153. Rights offers
154. No offer for sale to public without prospectus
155. Application form for shares to be attached to prospectus
Part 3
Prospectus
156. Matters to be stated in prospectus
157. Statement on face of issued prospectus
158. Consent of person named as director
159. Consent by experts and others
160. Contracts and translations thereof to be attached to prospectus
161. Where issue is underwritten
162. Signing, date and date of issue, of prospectus
163. Registration of prospectus
164. Time limit for issue of prospectus
165. Advertisement as to prospectus
166. Waiver of requirements of this Chapter void
167. Variation of contract mentioned in prospectus
168. Liability for untrue statements in prospectus
169. Liability of experts and others
170. Offences in respect of untrue statements in prospectus
171. No diminution of liability under any law or common law
Part 4
Allotment and Acceptance after Offer to Public
172. Time limit as to allotment or acceptance
173. No allotment unless minimum subscription received
174. No allotment or acceptance if application form not attached to prospectus
175. Voidable allotment
176. Minimum interval before allotment or acceptance
177. Conditional allotment if prospectus states shares to be listed by stock exchange
CHAPTER 7
ADMINISTRATION OF COMPANIES
Part 1
General
178. Postal address and registered office of company
179. Names of directors to be stated on certain documents of company
180. Certificate to commence business
181. Annual return
182. Annual duty
183. Annual duty payable by external company
184. Enforcement of duty of company to make returns to Registrar
185. Extension of time
186. Additional fees in respect of late submissions or late payment of annual duty
Part 2
Meetings of Company
187. Annual general meeting
188. General meetings

8Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
189. Calling of general meetings on requisition by members
190. Convening of general meetings by Registrar
191. General meetings on order of Court
192. Meetings of company with one member
193. Duty of company to circulate notice of resolutions and statements by members
194. Notice of meetings and resolutions
195. Manner of giving notice
196. Representation of company or other body corporate at certain meetings
197. Representation of members at meetings by proxies
198. Quorum for meetings
199. Chairperson of meetings
200. Compulsory adjournment of meetings
Part 3
Voting Rights and Voting
201. Voting rights of shareholders
202. Voting rights of preference shareholders
203. Determination of voting rights
204. Exceptions as regards voting rights
205. Exercise of voting rights
206. Right to demand poll
Part 4
Special Resolutions
207. Requirements for special resolutions
208. Registration of special resolutions
209. Alteration of memorandum or articles to pass special resolution
210. Special resolution to lapse unless registered
211. Dates on which resolutions take effect
Part 5
Minutes, Minute Books and Reports of Meetings
212. Keeping of minutes of meetings
213. Validity of proceedings
214. Right of members to inspect minute books
215. Publication of reports of meetings
CHAPTER 8
DIRECTORS
Part 1
Number and Appointment
216. Number of directors
217. Determination of number of directors and appointment of first directors
218. Appointment of directors to be voted on individually
219. Consent to act as director or officer
220. Filling of vacancy where director is disqualified or removed
221. Qualification shares of directors
222. Validity of acts where appointment is defective
Part 2
Register of Directors and Officers
223. Register of directors, officers and corporate secretaries
224. Duties of directors and others and of company in respect of register

No.3362 9Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
Part 3
Disqualifications of Directors
225. Disqualifications of directors
226. Disqualification of directors, officers and others by Court
227. Register of disqualification orders
228. Removal of directors and procedures in that regard
Part 4
Restrictions on Directors, their Powers and Certain Acts
229. Restriction of power of directors to issue share capital
230. Restriction on issue of shares and debentures to directors
231. Share option plans where director is interested
232. Director not to deal in options in respect of listed shares and debentures
233. Prohibition on tax free payments to directors
234. Prohibition of loans to, or security in connection with transactions by, directors
and managers
235. Payments to directors for loss of office or in connection with arrangements and
take-over schemes
236. Disposal of undertaking or greater part of assets of company
Part 5
Interests of and Dealings by Directors and Others in Shares of Company
237. Definitions for purposes of this Part
238. Register of interests of directors and others in shares and debentures of company
239. Directors to determine officers for purpose of register
240. Duty of directors and others as to register of interests
241. Offence to deal in shares with inside information before public announcement
Part 6
Interests of Directors and Officers in Contracts
242. Duty of director or officer to disclose interest in contracts
243. Manner of and time for declaration of interest
244. Written resolution where director is interested
245. Disclosure by interested director or officer acting for company
246. When particulars of interest to be stated in notice of meeting
247. Minuting of declarations of interest
248. Register of interests in contracts of directors and officers and its inspection
249. Duty of auditor as to register of interests in contracts
Part 7
Proceedings at Meetings of Directors and Managers
250. Keeping of minutes of meetings of directors and managers
251. Validity of proceedings at meetings of directors and managers
252. When resolution at adjourned meetings of directors and managers becomes effective
253. Attendance regis ter of meetings of directors and managers
254. Duty of auditor as to minute books and attendance register
Part 8
Indemnity and Relief of, and Offences by, Directors and Others
255. Exemption from indemnity against liability of directors, officers or auditors
256. Relief of directors and others by Court in certain cases
257. False statements and evidence

10Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
258. Falsification of books and records
259. False statement by directors and others
CHAPTER 9
REMEDIES OF MEMBERS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Part 1
Relief from Oppression
260. Remedy of member in case of oppressive or unreasonably prejudicial conduct
Part 2
Inquiry into Membership and Ownership of Shares and Control of Company
261. Power of Registrar to request information concerning shares and members
262.Appointment and powers of inspectors to investigate financial interest in and control
of company
263. Power to require information as to interest in shares or debentures
264. Power to impose restrictions on shares or debentures
Part 3
Investigation into Affairs of Company
265. Inspection of affairs of company on application of members
266. Investigation of affairs of company in other cases
267. Power of inspector to conduct investigation into affairs of related companies
268. Production of documents and evidence on investigation
269. Report of inspector
270. Proceedings on report of inspector
Part 4
Matters Incidental to Investigations
271. Expenses of and incidental to investigation of affairs of company
272. Saving in respect of legal practitioners and bankers
273. Report of inspectors to be evidence
Part 5
Proceedings on Behalf of Companies
274. Initiation of proceedings on behalf of company by member
275. Powers of curator
276. Security for costs by applicant for appointment of curator
CHAPTER 10
AUDITORS
Part 1
Appointment
277. First appointment of auditor of company
278. Annual appointment of auditor
279. Failure to appoint auditor
280. Minister may appoint joint auditor
281. Filling of casual vacancies
282. Firm may be appointed auditor
283. Disqualification for appointment as auditor
284. Consent by, and notice, entry and lodging of information pertaining to, auditor

No.3362 11Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
Part 2
Removal and Resignation of Auditor
285. Removal of auditor appointed by directors or Registrar, and filling of vacancy
286. Removal of auditor and appointment of new auditor
287. Special notice for removal of auditor
288. Resignation of auditor
Part 3
Rights, Duties and Remuneration
289. Right of auditor to access of books and to be heard at general meetings
290. Duties of auditor
291. Remuneration of auditor
CHAPTER 11
ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE
Part 1
Accounting Records
292. Duty of company to keep accounting records
293. Determination of financial year of company
294. Duty to make out annual financial statements and to present them before annual
general meeting
295. Offence to issue incomplete financial statements and circulars
Part 2
Accounting by Holding Companies
296. Obligation to present group statements before annual general meeting
297. Group annual financial statements
298. Where annual financial statements are to be consolidated
299. Where group annual financial statements need not deal with subsidiary
300. Accounting periods of company and subsidiary to be the same
301. Duty of auditor to report on decisions of directors on group annual financial
statements
Part 3
Disclosure of Certain Matters in Financial Statements and Further Requirements
302. Disclosure of loans to and security for benefit of directors and managers
303. Disclosure of loans made to and security provided for benefit of directors or
managers before their appointment
304. Disclosure of emoluments and pensions of directors
305. Approval and signing of financial statements
306. Duty of company to send annual financial statements to members and Registrar
307. Report of directors
Part 4
Duties of Auditor as to Annual Financial Statements
308. Duties of auditor as to annual financial statements and other matters
309. Report of auditor
Part 5
Interim Accounting
310. Half-yearly interim reports

12Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
311. Provisional annual financial statements
312. Form and contents of interim report and provisional annual financial statements
313. Copies of interim report and provisional annual financial statements to be lodged
with Registrar
314. Registrar may grant exemptions and extensions of time
315. Offences under sections 310 to 313, inclusive
Part 6
Right of Members and Others to Copies of Annual Financial Statements and Interim
Reports
316. Right of members and others to copies of annual financial statements and interim
reports
CHAPTER 12
COMPROMISE, ARRANGEMENT AND AMALGAMATION
317. Compromise and arrangement between company, its members and creditors
318. Information as to compromises and arrangements
319. Provisions facilitating reconstruction or amalgamation
320. Take-over offers
321. Contents of take-over statement by offeror
322. Duty of directors of offeree company to furnish take-over statement
323. Contents of take-over statement by directors of offeree company
324. Statement by the directors of offeree company in case of counter bid
325. Requirements for take-over offer may be waived
326. Liability and offences in regard to take-over offers
327. Power to acquire shares of minority in take-over scheme
CHAPTER 13
EXTERNAL COMPANIES
Part 1
Registration
328. Registration of memorandum of external company
329. Effect of registration of memorandum of external company
330. Power of external company to own immovable property in Namibia
Part 2
Administrative and Other Duties of External Companies
331. External company to have auditor
332. External company to have person authorised to accept service
333. Register of directors and managers and secretaries and power of Registrar to request
particulars
334. Changes in memorandum of external company
335. External company to keep accounting records and lodge annual financial statements
and interim report
336. External companies to lodge annual return
337. Further administrative duties of external company
338. Deregistration of external company
339. Offences in respect of external companies
340. Transfer of undertaking of external company and exemption from transfer duty
under scheme
341. Registration of external companies as companies in Namibia

No.3362 13Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
CHAPTER 14
WINDING-UP OF COMPANIES
Part 1
General
342. Definitions for purposes of winding-up of companies
343. Application of Companies Act, 1926, where winding-up has already commenced
344. Law of insolvency to apply with the necessary changes
345. Voidable and undue preferences
346. Dispositions and share transfers after winding-up void
347. Application of assets and costs of winding-up
348. Modes of winding-up
Part 2
Winding-up by Court
349. Circumstances in which company may be wound up by Court
350. When company is deemed unable to pay debts
351. Application for winding-up of company
352. Power of Court in hearing application
353. Commencement of winding-up by Court
Part 3
Voluntary Winding-up
354. Circumstances under which company may be wound up voluntarily
355. Voluntary winding-up of members and security
356. Voluntary winding-up of creditors
357. Commencement of voluntary winding-up
358. Effect of voluntary winding-up on status of company and on directors
Part 4
General Provisions Affecting all Windings-up
359. Court may stay aside winding-up
360. Notice to creditors or members in review by Court in winding-up
361. Notice of winding-up of company
362. Notice of winding-up to certain officials and their duties
363. Stay of legal proceedings before winding-up order granted
364. Legal proceedings suspended and attachments void
365. Inspection of records of company being wound up
366. Custody of or control over and vesting of property of company
367. Court may order directors and others to deliver property to liquidator or to pay
into bank
368. Directors and others to submit statement of affairs
369. Change of address of directors and secretaries to be given to liquidator
370. Master to summon first meetings of creditors and members and purpose
371. Offences in securing nomination as liquidator
372. Restriction on voting at meetings
373. Claims and proof of claims
Part 5
Liquidators
374. Appointment of liquidator
375. Appointment of provisional liquidator
376. Determination of person to be appointed liquidator

14Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
377. Master may decline to appoint nominated person as liquidator
378. Remedy of aggrieved persons
379. Persons disqualified from appointment as liquidator
380. Persons disqualified by Court from being appointed or acting as liquidators
381. Master may appoint co-liquidator at any time
382. Appointment, commencement of office and validity of acts of liquidator
383. Title of liquidator
384. Filling of vacancies
385. Leave of absence or resignation of liquidator
386. Removal of liquidator by Master and by Court
387. Control of Master over liquidators
388. Plurality of liquidators, liability and disagreement
389. Cost and reduction of security by liquidator
390. Remuneration of liquidator
391. Certificate of completion of duties by liquidator and cancellation of security
Part 6
Powers of Liquidators
392. General powers
393. Power of liquidator in winding-up by Court
394. Court may determine questions in voluntary winding-up
395. Exercise of power to make arrangement and the binding of dissentient creditors
396. Power of liquidator in voluntary winding-up to accept shares for assets of company
Part 7
Duties of Liquidators
397. General duties
398. Duty of liquidator to give information to Master
399. Duty of liquidator to keep records and inspection of records
400. Banking accounts and investments
401. Duties of liquidator as to contributories
402. Notices to contributories and objections
403. Recovery of contributions and nature of liability
404. Adjustment of rights of contributories
405. Evidence as to contributions and contributories
406. Duty of liquidator to expose offences and to report
407. Prosecutor-General may make application to Court for disqualification of director
408. Duty of liquidator to present report to creditors and contributories
409. Duty of liquidator to file liquidation and distribution account
410. Master may grant extension of time for lodging account
411. Failure of liquidator to lodge account or to perform duties
412. Places for and periods of inspection of account
413. Objections to account
414. Confirmation of account
415. Distribution of estate
416. Duty of liquidator as to receipts and unpaid dividends
417. Payment of money deposited with Master
Part 8
Meetings in Winding-up
418. Meetings of creditors and members and voting at meetings of creditors
419. Meetings to ascertain wishes of creditors and others
420. Duty of directors and officers to attend meetings
421. Examinations of directors and others at meetings
422. Application of Insolvency Act, 1936

No.3362 15Government Gazette 30 December 2004
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
Part 9
Examination of Persons in Winding-up
423. Summoning and examination of persons as to affairs of company
424. Examination by commissioners
Part 10
Dissolution of Companies and other Bodies Corporate
425. Dissolution
426. Court may declare dissolution void
427. Registrar to keep register of directors of dissolved companies
428. Disposal of records of dissolved company
Part 11
Personal Liability of Delinquent Directors and Others and Offences
429. Delinquent directors and others to restore property and to compensate the company
430. Liability of directors and others for fraudulent conduct of business
431. Application of criminal provisions of the law relating to insolvency
432. Private prosecution of directors and others
CHAPTER 15
JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT
433. Circumstances in which company may be placed under judicial management
434. Provisional judicial management order
435. Custody of property and appointment of provisional judicial manager
436. Duties of provisional judicial manager
437. Purpose of meeting convened under section 435(b)(ii)
438. Return day of provisional order of judicial management and powers of Court
439. Duties of final judicial manager
440. Application of assets during judicial management
441. Remuneration of provisional judicial manager or judicial manager
442. Pre-judicial management creditors may consent to preference
443. Voidable and undue preferences in judicial management
444. Period of judicial management to be discounted in determining preference under
mortgage bond
445. Position of auditor in judicial management
446. Application to judicial management of certain provisions of winding-up
447. Cancellation of judicial management order
CHAPTER 16
TRANSITIONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
448. Preservation of rights of existing companies
449. Transitional provisions as to unlimited companies and partly paid up shares
450. Regulations under repealed Act relating to winding up and judicial management
CHAPTER 17
REPEAL OF LAWS AND COMMENCEMENT OF ACT
451. Repeal of laws
452. Short title and commencement

16Government Gazette 30 December 2004
No.3362
Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 Tables A and B
Schedule 2 Common Powers of Companies
Schedule 3 Matters which must be Stated in a Prospectus in Addition to
those Specified in the Act
Schedule 4 Requirements for Annual Financial Statements and Interim
Reports
Schedule 5 Repeal of Laws
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia as follows:-
CHAPTER 1
INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF ACT
Definitions
1.(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates –
"accounting records", in relation to a company, includes accounts, deeds, writings and
other documents;
"annual duty" means the annual duty referred to in section 182;
"annual return" means the annual return referred to in section 181;
"articles", in relation to a company, means the articles of association of that company for
the time being in force, and includes any provision, in so far as it applies in respect of
that company, set out in Table A or Table B in Schedule 1;
"auditor" means a person who is, under section 23 of the Public Accountants' and Auditors'
Act, 1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951), registered as an accountant and auditor and who has
been appointed as an auditor under this Act;
"books or papers" and "books and papers" include accounts, deeds, writings and other
documents;
"certified" means certified in the manner prescribed by the Minister to be a true copy or
a correct translation;
"close corporation" means a corporation as defined in section 1 of the Close Corporations
Act, 1988, (Act No. 26 of 1988);
"Companies Act, 1926," means the Companies Act, 1926 (Act No. 46 of 1926), referred
to in section 442 of the repealed Act";
“company” means a company incorporated under Chapter 4 of this Act and includes any
body which, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was a company in terms
of the repealed Act;
“Court”, in relation to any company or other body corporate, means the High Court and,
in relation to any offence under this Act, includes a magistrate’s court having jurisdiction
in respect of that offence;
“debenture” includes debenture stock, debenture bonds and any other securities of a
company, whether constituting a charge on the assets of the company or not;

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“director” includes any person occupying the position of director or alternate director of
a company, by whatever name that person may be designated;
“equity share capital” and “equity shares”, in relation to a company, means its issued
share capital and shares, excluding any part which, neither with regard to dividends nor
with regard to capital, carries any right to participate beyond a specified amount in a
distribution;
“existing company” means any body which, before the commencement of this Act, was
a company in terms of the repealed Act;
“external company” means a company or other association of persons, incorporated
outside Namibia, which has a place of business in Namibia, or which was an external
company in terms of the repealed Act;
“foreign country” means any state, country or territory other than Namibia;
“holding company” means a holding company as defined in subsection (4);
“judicial manager” means the final judicial manager referred to in section 438;
“liquidator”, in relation to a company, means the person appointed under Chapter 14 as
liquidator of that company, and includes any co-liquidator and any provisional liquidator
so appointed;
“manager”, in relation to a company, means any person who is a principal executive
officer of the company for the time being, by whatever name designated and whether or
not that person is a director;
“Master” means the Master of the High Court;
“memorandum”, in relation to a company, means the memorandum of association of that
company for the time being in force, and in relation to an external company, means the
charter, statutes, memorandum of association and articles, or other instrument constituting
or defining the constitution of the company;
“Minister”, in relation to any matter to be dealt with in the office of the Master in
connection with the winding-up or judicial management of companies, means the Minister
responsible for Justice and, in relation to any other matter, means the Minister responsible
for Trade and Industry;
“officer”, in relation to a company, includes any managing director, manager or secretary
but excludes a secretary which is a body corporate;
“official language” means the official language of Namibia referred to in Article 3 of the
Namibian Constitution;
“place of business” means any place where the company transacts or holds itself out as
transacting business and includes a share transfer or share registration office;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulation made under this Act;
“prospectus” means any prospectus, notice, circular, advertisement or other invitation
offering any shares of a company to the public;
“provisional judicial manager” means a provisional judicial manager appointed by the
Master under section 435;

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“Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies appointed under section 6;
“regulations” means the regulations made under this Act;
“SAC” means the Standing Advisory Committee established by section 16;
“secretary” includes any official of a company by whatever name designated, including
a body corporate, performing the duties normally performed by a secretary of a company;
“share”, in relation to a company, means a share in the share capital of that company and
includes stock, and in relation to an offer of shares for subscription or sale, includes a
share and a debenture of a company, whether a company within the meaning of this Act
or not, and any rights or interests, by whatever name called, in a company or in or to that
share or debenture;
“share warrant” means the warrant referred to in section 107(1);
“special resolution”, in relation to a company, means a resolution passed at a general
meeting of that company in the manner provided for by section 207;
“staff member” means a staff member as defined in section 1(1) of the Public Service
Act, 1995 (Act No. 13 of 1995);
“subsidiary company” or “subsidiary” means a subsidiary company as defined in
subsection (3);
“the repealed Act” means the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973);
“this Act” includes the regulations;
“wholly owned subsidiary” means a wholly owned subsidiary as defined in subsection
(5); and
“winding-up order” means any order of court whereby a company is wound up and
includes any order of court whereby a company is placed under provisional winding-up
for so long as that order is in force.
(2) A person is not deemed to be, within the meaning of this Act, a person in
accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of a company are
accustomed to act by reason only that the directors of the company act on advice given
by him or her in a professional capacity.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, a company is deemed to be a subsidiary of
another company if –
(a) that other company is a member of it and –
(i) holds a majority of the voting rights in it; or
(ii) has the right to appoint or remove directors holding a majority of the
voting rights at meetings of the board; or
(iii) has the sole control of a majority of the voting rights in it, whether
pursuant to an agreement with other members or otherwise; or
(b) it is a subsidiary of any company which is a subsidiary of that other company;
or
(c) subsidiaries of that other company or that other company and its subsidiaries
together hold the rights referred to in paragraph (a).

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(4) In determining whether a company holds the majority of the voting rights
as contemplated in subsection (3)(a)(i) –
(a) voting rights which are exercisable only in certain circumstances must be
taken into account only –
(i) when those circumstances have arisen, and for so long as they
continue; or
(ii) when those circumstances are under the control of the person holding
the voting rights;
(b) voting rights held by a person in a fiduciary capacity must be treated as not
held by him or her but by the beneficiary of those voting rights;
(c) voting rights held by a person as nominee for another person must be treated
as not held by him or her but by that other person, and voting rights are
deemed to be held by a nominee for another person if they are exercisable
only on the instructions or with the consent or concurrence of that other
person.
(5) A body corporate or other undertaking which would have been a subsidiary
of a company had the body corporate or other undertaking been a company is deemed to
be a subsidiary of that company.
(6) For the purposes of this Act, a company is deemed to be a holding company
of another company if that other company is its subsidiary.
(7) For the purposes of this Act, a subsidiary is deemed to be a wholly owned
subsidiary of another company if it has no members except that other company and a
wholly owned subsidiary of that other company and its or their nominees.
(8) Where in this Act, reference is made to days within which anything is to be
done, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays must be excluded in calculating the days.
General application of Act
2.This Act applies to every company incorporated under this Act, every external
company and, save as is otherwise provided in this Act, to every existing company.
Application of Act restricted
3.This Act does not apply to –
(a) any company the formation, registration and management of which is
governed by any law relating to building societies, friendly societies,
including pension funds, within the meaning of the Pension Funds Act, 1956
(Act No. 24 of 1956), trade unions and employers’ organisations, or
co-operative societies or companies, save in so far as may be otherwise
provided in that law;
(b) any company or external company or society which is subject to any law
relating to banks or insurance companies or societies in so far as that law is
inconsistent with this Act.

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CHAPTER 2
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT
Part 1
Companies Registration Office and Registrar
Companies Registration Office and register
4.(1) The Companies Registration Office established in Windhoek under
section 5 of the repealed Act continues to exist and is the Companies Registration Office
for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may by notice in the Gazette,
declare any other place to be a Companies Registration Office for the purposes of this
Act.
(3) The Registrar must, in the Companies Registration Office, keep a register
of companies in which must be recorded the registration of any company and any other
matter for which provision is made in this Act.
(4) The register of companies kept by the Registrar under the repealed Act is
deemed to be and to form part of the register of companies to be kept in the Companies
Registration Office.
Seal of the Companies Registration Office
5.There is a seal of the Companies Registration Office and the impression of
that seal must be judicially noticed in evidence.
Appointment of Registrar, Deputy Registrar and delegation of power
6.(1) The Minister must, subject to the laws governing the public service,
appoint a Registrar of Companies, who must –
(a) exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned to the Registrar by this
Act;
(b) subject to the directions of the Minister, be responsible for the administration
of the Companies Registration Office; and
(c) if authorised by the Minister in writing and subject to any conditions which
the Minister may determine, exercise any power and perform any duty
assigned to the Minister by sections 14, 266(1), 267, 269, 271(1)(b), 280
and 335(7).
(2) The Minister may, subject to the law governing the public service, appoint
a Deputy Registrar, who must, subject to the control of the Registrar, exercise any power
or carry out any duty granted or assigned to the Registrar by this Act, and, when the
office of Registrar is vacant or when the Registrar is absent or is for any other reason
unable to perform his or her functions, the Deputy Registrar must act temporarily in his
or her place.
(3) The person holding office as Registrar of Companies under the repealed
Act, is deemed to have been appointed as the Registrar of Companies under this Act.
(4) The Registrar may in writing delegate any of the powers and entrust any of
the duties assigned to him or her by this Act, to any staff member, except for the powers
and duties entrusted or assigned to him or her by section 10 and, in so far as they relate
to giving notice in the Gazette, sections 30(3), 33(6), 49(5), 50(3)(b)(iii), 74(2) and (3),
98, 149(2) and 425(2).

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Exemption from liability
7.(1) No act or omission by the Registrar or any staff member or other
person in the employment of the State, having duties to perform under this Act, subjects
the State, or the Registrar, or that staff member or person to any liability for any loss or
damage sustained by any person in consequence of that act or omission unless that act or
omission was done in bad faith or was due to a lack of reasonable care or diligence.
(2) An auditor, a liquidator, a judicial manager or a provisional judicial manager
is not liable in respect of any opinion expressed or certificate given or report or statement
made or statement, account or document certified by him or her in good faith in the
ordinary course of his or her duties under this Act, unless it is proved that that opinion
was expressed or that certificate was given or that report or statement was made or that
statement, account or document was certified maliciously or negligently.
Inspection and copies of documents in Companies Registration Office
8.(1) Subject to subsection (4), any person may, on payment of the
prescribed fee –
(a) inspect the documents lodged under this Act with the Registrar;
(b) obtain a certificate from the Registrar as to the contents or part of the contents
of any document kept by him or her under this Act in respect of any company
and which is open to inspection; or
(c) obtain a copy of or extract from that document.
(2) If the Registrar is satisfied –
(a) that an inspection, certificate, copy or extract is required on behalf of any
foreign government; and
(b) that no fees are payable in the foreign country concerned in respect of that
inspection, certificate, copy or extract required on behalf of the Government
of Namibia;
no fee referred to in subsection (1) is payable.
(3) If the Registrar is satisfied that any inspection, certificate, copy or extract is
required for purposes of research by or under the control of an institution for higher
education, the Registrar may permit that inspection, or furnish that certificate or copy or
an extract, without payment of those fees.
(4) No person may inspect a document referred to in subsection (1) or obtain a
certificate as to the contents or part of the contents or obtain a copy of the document or
an extract from the document, if the Registrar is satisfied that that document contains
particular information or a particular fact concerning the affairs or business of a company,
or of any of its subsidiaries, which information or fact the company has been prohibited
under section 14(1) from disclosing or from stating on or in any document, or which
information or fact the company has been exempted under that section from any obligation
so to disclose or state.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to those portions of that document which do
not contain or refer to or give any indication of the particular information or particular
fact which the company has been prohibited or exempted from disclosing or stating.

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Manner of payment of fees to Companies Registration Office
9.(1) The payment of all fees, additional fees, annual duty or other moneys
payable to the Registrar as laid down by this Act must be effected in the prescribed
manner.
(2) No document, form, return or notice in respect of which any fee or payment
is determined under this Act, is complete unless proof of payment of the prescribed fee,
additional fees, annual duty or other moneys has been delivered to the Registrar.
(3) Any fees, additional fees, annual duty and any other moneys payable under
this Act to the Registrar are debts due to the State recoverable by the Minister in any
competent court, and do, unless otherwise provided, accrue to the State Revenue Fund.
Annual report by Registrar
10.The Registrar must, in every calendar year, submit to the Minister a report
containing information concerning the registration of companies of each type, their
authorised capitals or numbers of shares, increases in and reductions of capital,
prospectuses, windings-up, judicial managements, deregistrations and dissolutions of
companies, additional fees collected, prosecutions and convictions under this Act and
other matters which the Minister may direct.
Part 2
Powers of Court and Procedure
Security for costs in legal proceedings by companies and bodies corporate
11 .Where a company or other body corporate is the plaintiff or applicant in
any legal proceedings, the Court may at any stage, if it appears by credible testimony
that there is reason to believe that the company or body corporate or, if it is being wound
up, the liquidator of the company, will be unable to pay the costs of the defendant or
respondent if the defence of the latter is successful, require sufficient security to be given
for those costs and may stay all proceedings until the security is given.
Copies of Court orders to be transmitted to Registrar and Master
12.Where any Court makes any order under this Act in relation to any company,
the Registrar of the Court must, without delay, send a copy of the order to the Registrar
and if that order relates to the winding-up or judicial management of any company, also
a copy to the Master.
Part 3
Regulations and Notices
Regulations
13.(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister responsible
for Justice where appropriate, make regulations –
(a) providing for the conduct and administration of the Companies Registration
Office and prescribing the practice and procedure to be observed in that
office;
(b) prescribing the practice and procedure to be observed in the office of the
Master in connection with the winding-up and judicial management of
companies;

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(c) providing for the reproduction of any records in the Companies Registration
Office or the office of the Master by microfilm, microcard, miniature
photographic process or any other process deemed suitable by the Minister;
(d) providing for the use for official purposes and the admissibility in evidence
in any proceedings, whether in a court of law or otherwise, of any
reproduction contemplated in paragraph (c);
(e) providing for the keeping and preservation of any records, or any
reproduction contemplated in paragraph (c), in the Companies Registration
Office or the office of the Master, the removal from those offices and
preservation in any other place of those records or reproductions and
prescribing the circumstances under which those records or reproductions
may be destroyed;
(f) prescribing how records required under this Act to be kept by a company
may be kept, and prescribing the circumstances under which those records
may be destroyed;
(g) prescribing the procedure to be followed with respect to any matter in
connection with the winding-up and judicial management of companies;
(h) prescribing the form and the contents of any return, notice or form provided
for by this Act;
(i) prescribing when an additional copy or copies of documents to be lodged
under the Act are to be lodged and whether the additional copy or copies are
to be in the form of a copy or copies certified in the manner prescribed or
are to be in duplicate original form;
(j) prescribing the matters in respect of which fees are payable and the tariff of
those fees;
(k) prescribing the rate of the annual duty payable by companies and the
additional fees payable for late payment of annual duty or payment of an
amount less than the prescribed annual duty;
(l) providing for a table of fees, subject to taxation by the Master, which are
payable to a liquidator as remuneration;
(m) prescribing a tariff of remuneration payable to any person performing on
behalf of a liquidator any act relating to the winding-up of a company, and
prohibiting the charging or recovery of remuneration at a higher tariff than
the tariff so prescribed;
(n) as to any matter required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by
regulation; and
(o) generally, as to any matter which the Minister considers necessary or
expedient to prescribe in order that the purposes of this Act may be achieved.
(2) Any regulations made under subsection (1) may prescribe penalties for any
contravention thereof or failure to comply therewith not exceeding a fine of N$2 000 or
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both that fine and imprisonment.

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Prohibition of disclosure of, and exemption from obligation to disclose, certain
information
14.(1) The Minister may –
(a) by notice in writing prohibit any company from disclosing, or from stating
on or in any document of the company;
(b) on the written application of a company to the Registrar, exempt it, subject
to any conditions or restrictions which the Minister may impose, from the
obligation to disclose, or to state on or in any of its documents,
particular information or a particular fact concerning the affairs or business of the company,
or that of any of its subsidiaries, which the company would otherwise be required under
this Act to disclose or to state on or in any document.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) any company must, if the Registrar in a
particular case in writing requires the company to do so, submit to the Registrar
information which the company would otherwise have been required to submit to the
Registrar in terms of this Act.
(3) The Minister must, when considering whether to impose a prohibition or
grant an exemption under subsection (1), have regard to the right of the members of the
company and of other persons to be informed of the state of affairs and the business and
of the profit or loss of the company or of the company and its subsidiaries.
(4) Any company which contravenes a prohibition imposed under subsection
(1)(a) and any director or officer of a company who contravenes that prohibition, commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for
a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(5) For the purposes of this section a company includes an external company.
Notices amending or adding to Schedules
15.(1) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette amend or add to the
Schedules to this Act.
(2) Any notice referred to in subsection (1) may prescribe different provisions
in respect of different types of companies.
(3) A notice referred to in subsection (1) amending or adding to –
(a) Table A or B contained in Schedule 1 does not apply in relation to any
company in respect of which the Table in question applied immediately
before the date on which the notice took effect;
(b) Schedule 4 does not apply in respect of any financial year of any company
which ended before that date.
Part 4
Standing Advisory Committee
Establishment of Standing Advisory Committee
16.(1) There is established a committee, to be known as the Standing
Advisory Committee which consists of five members, appointed by the Minister, of
whom –

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(a) one must be a judge, retired judge or legal practitioner with specialised
knowledge of corporate law and nominated by the Law Society of Namibia;
(b) one must be an academic involved in corporate law at a tertiary institution
appointed by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for
Higher Education;
(c) one must be a chartered accountant nominated by an association which
represents chartered accountants in Namibia; and
(d) two must be persons whom the Minister reasonably believes will be useful
to the SAC.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person is not eligible for appointment to
the SAC if he or she –
(a) is an unrehabilitated insolvent;
(b) has been convicted of an offence of which dishonesty is an element and
sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine; or
(c) is considered a mentally ill person under the Mental Health Act, 1973 (Act
No. 18 of 1973).
Functions and powers of SAC
17.(1) The functions of the SAC are to –
(a) make recommendations to the Minister with regard to any amendments to
this Act which appears to it to be appropriate;
(b) advise the Minister on any matter referred to it by the Minister;
(c) consult or cooperate with any similar body or institution involved in corporate
law development with a view to developing corporate law in Namibia; and
(d) make recommendations to the Minister responsible for Higher Education
with regard to the establishment of a research component at a tertiary
institution in Namibia.
(2) The SAC has power to –
(a) call to its assistance any persons whom or bodies which it considers necessary
to investigate matters relating to corporate law;
(b) enter into an agreement with any person, including the State, a university, a
research institution or any other person or body for the performance of any
specific act or function or the rendering of specific services;
(c) enter into any other contract and agreement for a legitimate purpose.
(2) The SAC may establish subcommittees consisting of its members or other
persons to assist the SAC in the performance of its functions and exercise of its powers
under this Act.
Tenure of office
18.(1) Subject to subsection (2), a member of the SAC holds office for a
period of three years, but a member is eligible for re-appointment at the end of his or her
term of office.

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(2) A member of the SAC vacates office if he or she –
(a) ceases to hold the office by virtue of which he or she became a member or
is no longer a member of the association or institution by virtue of which he
or she became a member;
(b) has, without reasonable excuse, absented himself or herself from three
consecutive meetings of the SAC;
(c) in writing, resigns from office; or
(d) becomes subject to a disqualification referred to in section 16(2).
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may, after affording a member
an opportunity to make representations on the matter, remove a member from office if
the Minister has reasonable cause to believe that the member is no longer fit or able to
discharge the functions of his or her office.
(4) If a member of the SAC vacates office under the circumstances referred to
in subsection (2) or (3) or dies, the vacancy must be filled by the Minister in accordance
with section 16(1).
(5) A member who is appointed under subsection (4) holds office for the
remainder of the period for which his or her predecessor was entitled to hold office.
Administration, finance and procedures of the SAC
19.(1) The Registrar is the secretary of the SAC and the administrative work
of the SAC must be done by staff members of the Ministry who are made available for
that purpose by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Trade and Industry.
(2) A member of the SAC or a person who has done work which is required to
be done under this Act is entitled to be paid allowances or to be reimbursed for expenses
incurred whilst doing that work, but no allowances are payable and no expenses will be
reimbursed to a member or person who is entitled to be or has been compensated for
doing that work by the State or by any other person or institution.
(3) The allowances or expenses payable or reimbursable under subsection (2)
must be determined by the Minister after consulting the Minister responsible for Finance
and those allowances or expenses must be paid out from money appropriated for that
purpose by Parliament.
(4) The Minister must appoint one of the members of the SAC to be the first
chairperson of the SAC and the members must elect a vice-chairperson from amongst
themselves.
(5) Subsequent chairpersons of the SAC must be elected by members of the
SAC from amongst themselves.
(6) The chairperson or in his or her absence, the vice-chairperson, must, in
consultation with the other members of the SAC, determine the times and places at which
meetings of the SAC are to be held but at least one meeting of the SAC must be held
during each calendar year.
(7) Two members of the SAC may, in writing, request the chairperson to convene
a meeting of the SAC and if a meeting is not convened within 30 days after that request,
at least one member of the SAC may, in writing, request the Minister to convene a meeting
of the SAC.
(8) The quorum for a meeting of the SAC is three members.

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(9) The chairperson of the SAC must preside at meetings of the SAC and if he
or she is absent from a meeting, the vice-chairperson must preside and if both are absent,
the members who are present must elect one of those present to preside over the meeting.
(10) The decision of the majority of the members present at a meeting of the
SAC is the decision of the SAC, and in the event of an equality of votes, the person
presiding at the meeting has a casting vote in addition to his or her ordinary vote.
(11) Where a member of the SAC or a spouse, partner or business associate of
the member has a direct or indirect financial interest in a matter which involves the SAC,
the member must, at or before the meeting where the matter is to be discussed, advise the
SAC of the nature and extent of the financial interest, and thereafter the SAC must
determine whether or not the member can participate in discussions relating to that
particular matter.
(12) The SAC must cause minutes of its proceedings to be recorded.
(13) The SAC or a committee appointed under section 16(2) may invite any
person who is not a member of the SAC to participate in proceedings of the SAC or a
committee of the SAC but that person has no right to vote at the proceedings.
(14) The Registrar may attend meetings of the SAC by virtue of his or her office
but he or she is not entitled to vote on any matter which is before the SAC.
(15) The SAC may make rules governing the manner in which meetings are to
be held and the procedure to be followed at a meeting.
(16) The SAC must, within three months after the end of each calendar year,
submit to the Minister, an annual report on its activities and any matter which it has dealt
with during that year.
CHAPTER 3
TYPES AND FORMS OF COMPANIES, CONVERSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
ON PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Part 1
Types of Companies
Companies having share capital and companies not having share capital
20.(1) Two types of companies may be formed and incorporated under this
Act, namely –
(a) a company having a share capital; or
(b) a company not having a share capital and having the liability of its members
limited by the memorandum (in this Act called “a company limited by
guarantee”).
(2) A company having a share capital may be either a public company or a
private company having shares of par value or shares of no par value.
(3) All companies limited by guarantee, including existing companies, are
deemed to be public companies for the purposes of this Act.
Non-profit associations
21.(1) Any association –
(a) formed or to be formed for any lawful purpose;

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(b) having as its object the promotion of religion, arts, sciences, education,
charity, recreation, or any other cultural or social activity or communal or
group interests;
(c) which intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its
object;
(d) which prohibits the payment of any dividend to its members; and
(e) which complies with the requirements of this section in respect to its
formation and registration,
may be incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.
(2) The memorandum of an association referred to in subsection (1) must comply
with the requirements of this Act and must, in addition, contain the following provisions –
(a) the income and property of the association however derived must be applied
solely towards the promotion of its object, and no portion must be paid or
transferred, directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise,
to the members of the association or to its holding company or subsidiary,
but nothing contained in the memorandum prevents the payment in good
faith of reasonable remuneration to any officer or employee of the association
or to any member in return for any services actually rendered to the
association;
(b) on its winding-up, deregistration or dissolution the assets of the association
remaining after the satisfaction of all its liabilities must be given or transferred
to some other association or institution or associations or institutions having
objects similar to its object, to be determined by the members of the
association at or before the time of its dissolution or, failing that
determination, by the Court.
(3) Sections 55(1)(c) and 182 do not apply to an association referred to in
subsection (1).
(4) Existing associations incorporated under section 21 of the repealed Act are
deemed to have been formed and incorporated under this section.
Meaning of “private company” and cessation of its privileges
22.(1) In this Act the expression “private company” means a company having
a share capital and which by its articles –
(a) restricts the right to transfer its shares;
(b) limits the number of its members, other than persons who are in the
employment of the company and of persons who having been formerly in
the employment of the company were, while in that employment, and have
continued after the termination of that employment to be, members of the
company, to 50; and
(c) prohibits any offer to the public for the subscription of any shares or
debentures of the company.
(2) Where two or more persons hold one or more shares of a company jointly
they must, for the purposes of this section, be treated as a single member.

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(3) A private company must not alter its articles in such manner that they no
longer include all of the provisions referred to in subsection (1) unless it is at the same
time converted into a public company.
(4) If a private company fails to comply with its articles referred to in subsection
(1), it immediately becomes subject to sections 306(5), 310 and 311(1) as if it were a
public company, but, the Court, on being satisfied that the failure to comply with the
articles was unintentional or due 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
person interested and on appropriate terms and conditions, order that the company be
relieved of those obligations which apply to a public company.
Incorporation of certain branches of foreign companies and non-profit associations
23.(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, a
branch, established in Namibia, of a company or other association of persons, incorporated
outside Namibia, or an association of persons which is not incorporated and has its head
office in a foreign country may be incorporated under section 21 if –
(a) the object in Namibia of that branch corresponds with the object of the
company or association concerned;
(b) that branch complies with the requirements of section 21; and
(c) the whole of the business and all the property, rights and obligations in
Namibia of the company or association concerned will, on incorporation
under section 25, be transferred in due form to vest in and be binding on the
company so incorporated.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law –
(a) no transfer or stamp duty is payable in respect of the transfer of property
contemplated in subsection (1)(c); and
(b) any licence, exemption, permit, certificate or authority held in terms of any
law by the company or association concerned in respect of its business or
property in Namibia will, with effect from the date of incorporation of the
branch concerned as a company because of subsection (1), for the purposes
of that law be deemed to be held by the company so incorporated in respect
of that business or property.
(3) This Act in so far as it relates to external companies does not apply in the
case of an external company a branch of which has been incorporated as a company by
virtue of subsection (1).
Part 2
Conversion of Companies
Conversion of public company, having share capital into private company, and vice
versa
24.(1) With the sanction of a special resolution and on compliance with the
requirements of sections 22 and 28 and with the other requirements of this Act in respect
of private companies, a public company having a share capital may convert itself into a
private company having a share capital.
(2) With the sanction of a special resolution and on compliance with the other
requirements of this Act in respect of public companies, a private company having a
share capital may convert itself into a public company having a share capital.

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Conversion of company into incorporated non-profit association or company limited
by guarantee
25.With the sanction of a special resolution and on compliance with the
requirements of section 28 and the other requirements of this Act in respect of non-profit
associations and companies limited by guarantee, any company may convert itself into a
non-profit association under section 21 or into a company limited by guarantee, except
that a company having a share capital may only so convert itself if its share capital is
cancelled.
Conversion of company limited by guarantee into company having share capital
26.With the sanction of a special resolution and on compliance with the
requirements of section 28 and the other requirements of this Act in respect of companies
having a share capital, a company limited by guarantee, excluding a non-profit association
under section 21, but including an existing company limited by guarantee having a share
capital, may convert itself into a company having a share capital.
Conversion of unlimited company
27.(1) An unlimited company referred to in section 25(1) of the repealed
Act, which still exists at the commencement of this section and which has not been
converted as contemplated in section 25(1) of that Act, may with the sanction of a special
resolution and on compliance with section 28 and the other requirements of this Act,
convert itself into any type or form of company provided for by this Act, but, that
conversion does not affect the liability of its members in respect of any debts, liabilities
or obligations incurred or contracts entered into by, with or on behalf of the company
before the conversion.
(2) Until the conversion referred to in subsection (1) takes place –
(a) section 25(2) of the repealed Act continues to apply to that unlimited
company as if that section has not been repealed; and
(b) the obligation imposed in terms of section 25(3) of that Act, in the case of
an unlimited company which is a private company, continues to bind that
company as from the date of commencement of this section.
Notice of intended conversion of company
28.(1) Any company intending to convert itself into another type or form of
company must, not less than 15 days before the date of the meeting convened for the
purpose of passing the required special resolution, give notice in the Gazette of that
intention, specifying the particulars of the proposed conversion and the date and place of
the meeting.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any private company having a share capital
intending to convert itself into a public company having a share capital.
(3) If any company intending to convert itself into another type or form of
company is a public company having a share capital, it must, in addition, send the notice
referred to in subsection (1) to every creditor of the company by registered post not less
than 15 days before the date of the meeting.
Contents and form of articles on conversion
29.When the articles of any company are to be altered for the purpose of
converting the company into another type or form of company under section 24, 26 or
27, sections 64(2) and 65 in so far as they relate to the contents and form of articles, do,
with the necessary changes, apply to the articles of that company.

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Registration of conversion
30.(1) The Registrar must, on the registration of the special resolution made
under this Part and on payment of the prescribed fee and on being satisfied that the
requirements of this Act have been complied with, register any conversion in the register
of companies and must issue an amended certificate of incorporation, stating the date of
the first registration of the company, its former name, the name as altered and the nature
of the conversion.
(2) Any conversion referred to in subsection (1) takes effect as from the date of
the issue of the amended certificate of incorporation as contemplated in subsection (1).
(3) The Registrar must give notice in the Gazette of the conversion of a company
into another type or form of company.
Effect of conversion and alteration of other registers
31.(1) The conversion of a company into another type or form of company
under this Act does not affect the corporate existence of the company as from the date of
its first registration, nor any of its rights, debts, liabilities, obligations incurred or contracts
entered into by, with, or on its behalf at any time nor render defective any legal proceedings
by or against the company, and any legal proceedings that could have been continued or
commenced by or against it before the conversion, may, notwithstanding the conversion,
be continued or commenced against the company as converted.
(2) If as a result of the conversion of a company into another type or form of
company, any alteration in its name pursuant to the requirements of this Act is necessary,
the alteration must not be regarded as a change of name for the purposes of section 50(1).
(3) On the production by a company of an amended certificate of incorporation
or a certified copy to any registrar or other officer charged with the maintenance of a
register under any law, and on compliance with the requirements of that registrar or
officer as to the form of application, if any, and the payment of any fee prescribed by that
law, if any, that registrar or other officer must make in his or her register all those alterations
which are necessary because of the conversion of the company into another type or form
of company.
Part 3
Conversion of Companies and Close Corporations
Conversion of company into close corporation
32.When a company is converted into a close corporation in terms of the Close
Corporations Act, 1988 (Act No. 26 of 1988), the Registrar must, simultaneously with
the registration of the founding statement of the close corporation by the Registrar of
Close Corporations in terms of that Act, cancel the registration of the memorandum and
articles of association of the company concerned.
Conversion of close corporation into company
33.(1) A close corporation may, with the written consent of all its members,
be converted into a company, as long as every member of the close corporation becomes
a member of that company.
(2) A close corporation to be converted into a company as contemplated in
subsection (1) may, subject to this section, apply to be incorporated as a company under
Chapter 4 of this Act.
(3) If an application referred to in subsection (2) complies with Chapter 4 and
subsection (4) –

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(a) the Registrar must register the memorandum and articles in accordance with
section 68; and
(b) the Registrar must satisfy himself or herself that simultaneously with that
registration, the registration of the founding statement of the close
corporation concerned is cancelled in accordance with the Close
Corporations Act, 1988 (Act No. 26 of 1988).
(4) An application referred to in subsection (2) must be accompanied by –
(a) a statement of the paid-up share capital, if any, for an amount not greater
than the excess of the fair value of the assets to be acquired by the company,
over the liabilities to be assumed by the company because of the conversion,
but, the company may treat any portion of that excess not reflected as paid-up
share capital, as distributable reserves; and
(b) a statement by the close corporation’s accounting officer, based on the
performance of his or her duties under the Close Corporations Act, 1988,
that he or she is not aware of any contravention of the said Act by the close
corporation or its members or of any circumstances which may render the
members of the close corporation together with the close corporation jointly
and severally liable for the corporation’s debts.
(5) Where a conversion under this section takes place, the shares or the nominal
value of the shares to be held in the company by the members individually, need not
necessarily be in proportion to the members’ interests as stated in the founding statement
of the close corporation concerned.
(6) The Registrar must give notice in the Gazette of the conversion of a close
corporation into a company.
Effect of conversion of close corporation into a company
34.(1) On the registration of a company converted from a close corporation,
all the assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the corporation vest in the company.
(2) Any legal proceedings instituted before the registration by or against the
close corporation, may be continued by or against the company, and any other thing
done by or in respect of the corporation, is deemed to have been done by or in respect of
the company.
(3) The juristic person which existed as a close corporation before the conversion
must, notwithstanding the conversion, continue to exist as a juristic person but in the
form of a company.
(4) On the production by a company which has been converted from a close
corporation of a certificate of incorporation referred to in section 70 to any registrar or
other officer charged with the maintenance of a register under any law, and on compliance
with the requirements of that registrar or officer as to the form of application and the
payment of any required fee, that registrar or other officer must make in his or her register
all those alterations as are necessary because of the change effected by the conversion of
the close corporation into a company.
(5) No transfer or stamp duty is payable in respect of alterations made in a
register under subsection (4).

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Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
Part 4
Limitations on Partnerships and Associations for Gain
Prohibition of associations or partnerships exceeding 20 members and exemption
35.(1) A company, association, syndicate or partnership consisting of more
than 20 persons must not be permitted or formed in Namibia for the purpose of carrying
on any business that has as its object the acquisition of gain by the company, association,
syndicate or partnership, or by its individual members, unless it is registered as a company
under this Act, or was formed in terms of the repealed Act or any law which was in
existence before the repealed Act.
(2) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette –
(a) exclude any association, syndicate or partnership, formed –
(i) by persons qualified to carry on any organised professions designated
by the Minister in that notice;
(ii) for the purpose of carrying on any profession or any combinations of
any professions designated by the Minister,
from subsection (1);
(b) include or exclude any other company, association, syndicate or partnership
in or from subsection (1).
Unregistered associations carrying on business for gain not corporate bodies
36.No association of persons formed after the commencement of this Act for
the purpose of carrying on any business that has for its object the acquisition of gain by
the association or by the individual members, is a body corporate, unless it is registered
as a company under this Act, or was formed in terms of the repealed Act or any law
which was in existence before the repealed Act.
CHAPTER 4
FORMATION, OBJECTS, CAPACITY, POWERS, NAMES, REGISTRATION
AND INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES, INCIDENTAL MATTERS
AND DEREGISTRATION
Part 1
Formation, Capacity, Powers and Objects
Mode of forming company
37.Any seven or more persons, where the company to be formed is a public
company, or any two or more persons, where the company to be formed is a private
company, or any one person, where the company to be formed is a private company with
a single member, may, for any lawful purpose, form a company having a share capital or
a company limited by guarantee and secure its incorporation by complying with the
requirements of this Act in respect of the registration of the memorandum and articles.
Capacity, powers and objects
38.(1) Subject to this section a company has the capacity and powers of a
natural person of full capacity in so far as a juristic person is capable of having that
capacity or of exercising those powers.
(2) The memorandum of a company –

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(a) may state the objects of a company;
(b) must state the objects of the company where it is so required by this Act or
any other law,
but, where the objects of a company, or where any exclusion or qualification in terms of
section 39 with regard to the objects or powers of the company, including an existing
company, is stated, it only serves to restrict the capacity and powers of the company
internally as between the company, its directors and its members, unless a person dealing
with the company had actual knowledge or ought reasonably to have known of that
statement of the objects of the company or of any exclusion or qualification in terms of
section 39 with regard to the objects or powers of the company stated in the company’s
memorandum.
(3) A non-profit association incorporated under section 21 must state its object
in its memorandum as provided in subsection (1)(b) of that section.
(4) Subject to subsections (2)(b) and (3), any existing company may at any
time after the commencement of this Act, in accordance with section 62(4), by resolution
alter its memorandum in order to remove any objects stated in its memorandum and that
alteration becomes effective on the date of registration of the resolution.
(5) Subsection (2) must not be construed as in any way limiting the right of a
company to –
(a) claim damages from a director, officer or agent of the company for a
transaction concluded; or
(b) obtain a restraining order against a director, officer or agent from entering
into a proposed transaction;
where that transaction falls outside the objects or the powers of the company.
Ancillary objects and powers of company
39.(1) Where the objects of a company are stated in its memorandum, there
must be included in those objects unlimited objects ancillary to those stated objects except
those specific ancillary objects which are expressly excluded in its memorandum.
(2) Subject to any limitation imposed by this Act, a company referred to in
subsection (1) has plenary powers, including the common powers stated in Schedule 2 to
this Act, to enable it to realise its objects and ancillary objects, except those specific
powers which are expressly excluded or qualified in its memorandum.
Dealings between company and other persons
40.A company or a guarantor of an obligation of a company may not assert
against a person dealing with the company or with a person who has acquired any property,
rights or interests from the company that –
(a) a person named as a director of the company in the most recent return lodged
with the Registrar under section 224 –
(i) is not a director of the company;
(ii) has not been duly appointed; or
(iii) does not have authority to exercise a power which a director of a
company carrying on business of the kind carried on by the company
customarily has authority to exercise;

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(b) a person held out by the company as a director, officer or agent of the
company –
(i) has not been duly appointed; or
(ii) does not have authority to exercise a power which a director, officer
or agent of a company carrying on business of the kind carried on by
the company customarily has authority to exercise;
(c) a person held out by the company as a director, officer or agent of the
company with authority to exercise a power which a director, officer or
agent of a company carrying on business of the kind carried on by the
company does not customarily have authority to exercise, does not have
authority to exercise that power;
(d) a document issued on behalf of a company by a director, an officer or agent
of the company with actual or usual authority to issue the document is not
valid or genuine,
unless that person has, or ought reasonably to have, by virtue of his or her position with
or relationship to the company, knowledge of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a),
(b), (c) or (d), as the case may be.
No constructive knowledge
41.A person is not affected by, or deemed to have notice or knowledge of the
contents of, the memorandum or articles of, or any other document relating to a company,
merely because the memorandum, articles or other document –
(a) is registered by, or lodged with, the Registrar; or
(b) is available for inspection or kept at the registered office of a company in
accordance with this Act.
Power as to pre-incorporation contracts
42.Any contract made in writing by a person professing to act as agent or
trustee for a company not yet incorporated is capable of being ratified or adopted by or
otherwise made binding upon and enforceable by that company after it has been duly
incorporated as if it had been duly incorporated at the time when the contract was made
and that contract had been made without its authority, but, the memorandum on its
registration, must contain a statement with regard to the ratification or adoption of or the
acquisition of rights and obligations in respect of that contract, and that two copies of
that contract, one of which must be certified by a notary public, have been lodged with
the Registrar together with the lodgement for registration of the memorandum and articles
of the company.
Loans made and security provided by subsidiary
43.(1) For the purposes of this section –
(a) “funds” include money, shares, debentures or any other property;
(b) “loan” includes any credit extended by a company, if the debt concerned is
not payable or being paid in accordance with the normal business practice of
the company in respect of the payment to it of other debts of the same kind;
(c) “security” includes a guarantee.

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(2) If –
(a) any funds of a company were employed directly or indirectly, whether
through the instrumentality of its subsidiary or otherwise, in a loan to any
company which is its holding company or which is a subsidiary of that
holding company but not a subsidiary of itself; or
(b) a company directly or indirectly, whether through the instrumentality of its
subsidiary or otherwise, provided any security to another person in
connection with an obligation of any company which is its holding company
or which is a subsidiary of that holding company but not a subsidiary of
itself,
particulars of that loan or security, as the case may be, must be stated in the annual
financial statements of the company for every year during which that loan or security
was in operation.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of loans made or security provided
in good faith in the ordinary course of the business of a company actually and regularly
carrying on a business a substantial part of which is the making of loans or the provision
of security, as the case may be.
(4) Any director or officer of a company who fails to take all reasonable steps
to secure compliance with subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(5) In any prosecution against any director or officer of a company under
subsection (4), the defence referred to in section 292(5) is, with the necessary changes,
available to him or her.
(6) Any director or officer of a company who authorises or permits or is a party
to the making of any loan or the provision of any security contemplated in subsection
(2)(a), is liable to the company for any damage directly arising from the making of that
loan or the provision of that security on terms or conditions which, at the time of the
making of that loan or the provision of that security, were not fair to the company or
failed to provide reasonable protection for its business interests.
(7) A director or officer who has paid any amount as damages by virtue of
subsection (6) may recover that part of that amount as the Court considers equitable,
from any other director or officer who is in terms of that subsection also liable to the
company for the same damage.
(8) For the purposes of subsections (6) and (7), “director or officer” of a company
includes any director or officer of a holding company of that company, and for the purposes
of recovery of the damages as are contemplated in subsection (6) sections 274, 275 and
276 do, with the necessary changes, apply as if a director or officer or past director or
officer of that holding company was a director or officer or past director or officer of that
company, respectively.
(9) In enquiring, for the purposes of subsection (6), whether or not any terms or
conditions were fair to the company or failed to provide reasonable protection for its
business interests, regard must be had, without prejudice to the generality of the enquiry,
to –
(a) whether, in view of the financial position of the parties, the loan should
have been made or the security should have been provided at all;
(b) in the case of a loan, whether security has been or should in the circumstances
have been provided, and whether any security provided is adequate;

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(c) the consideration for the loan or security, including any interest or other
benefit received;
(d) the term of the loan or security; and
(e) the manner of repayment of the loan or discharge of the security.
(10) This section does not derogate from any other rule of law relating to the
liability of a director or officer of a company.
(11) This section does not apply to anything done by a company with the consent
of all its members.
No financial assistance to purchase shares of company or holding company
44.(1) A company must not 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 shares of the company, or where the company is a
subsidiary company, of its holding company.
(2) Subsection (1) must not be construed as prohibiting –
(a) the lending of money in the ordinary course of its business by a company
whose main business is the lending of money;
(b) the provision by a company, in accordance with any scheme for the time
being in force, of money for the subscription for or purchase of shares of
the company or its holding company by trustees to be held by or for the
benefit of employees of the company, including any director holding a
salaried employment or office in the company; or
(c) the making by a company of loans to persons, other than directors, in the
employment of the company with a view to enabling those persons to
purchase or subscribe for shares of the company or its holding company to
be held by themselves as owners; or
(d) the provision of financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in a company
or its holding company –
(i) with the prior approval of the particular transaction given by special
resolution at a general meeting; and
(ii) if there are reasonable grounds for believing that –
(aa) the company is, or would after payment be, able to pay its
debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business;
or
(bb) the consolidated assets of the company fairly valued would
after the payment be more than the consolidated liabilities of
the company.
(3) Any company which and every director or officer of that company who
contravenes subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to
both the fine and imprisonment.

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(4) For the purpose of subsection (3) “director”, in relation to a company,
includes any person who at the time of the alleged contravention was a director of the
company.
(5) It is a defence in any proceedings under this section against any director or
officer of a company if it is proved that the accused was not a party to the contravention.
Company not to be member of its holding company
45.(1) Save as is provided in subsection (2), if shares in a company are
acquired in accordance with section 95 by its subsidiary, for so long as those shares are
held by the subsidiary –
(a) no voting rights attaching to those shares may be exercised; and
(b) the votes able to be cast at any meeting of shareholders must be reduced by
the votes in respect of shares held by the subsidiary,
but this subsection does not apply where the shares are acquired in a subsidiary of the
holding company which is also a subsidiary of the acquiring company.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a subsidiary acting in a
representative capacity or as a trustee, unless the holding company or its subsidiary 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) In relation to a company limited by guarantee which is a holding company,
the reference in this section to shares of a company, must be construed as including a
reference to the interest of its members as such, whatever the form of that interest.
(4) For the purposes of this section “acquire” includes any shares that the
subsidiary becomes entitled to in any other manner.
No division into interests, rights to profits or shares in guarantee companies
46.(1) In the case of a company limited by guarantee, every provision in the
memorandum or articles or in any resolution of the company purporting to give any
person a right to participate in the divisible profits of the company otherwise than as a
member is void.
(2) Any provision in the memorandum or articles or in any resolution of a
company limited by guarantee, purporting to divide the undertaking of the company into
shares or interests is void.
Part 2
Names of Companies
Names of companies not to be undesirable
47.The Registrar must not register a memorandum containing a name for a
company to be incorporated if the Registrar reasonably believes that the name is
undesirable.
Reservation of name
48.(1) The Registrar may, on written application on the prescribed form and
on payment of the prescribed fee, reserve a name or a shortened form of the name of a

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company, pending the registration of a memorandum or a change of name by that company
or the registration of a shortened form of the name.
(2) If the name of a company or a shortened form thereof is in a language other
than the official language, a translation of the name in the official language, in so far as
it is possible, must be submitted to the Registrar together with the application referred to
in subsection (1).
(3) A reservation referred to in subsection (1) is for a period not exceeding two
months or any extended period, not exceeding in all three months, which the Registrar,
on payment of the prescribed fee, may in the special circumstances of any case allow.
Registration of shortened form of name or defensive name
49.(1) The memorandum of any company to be incorporated may contain
one shortened form of the company’s name, and any company may, on the prescribed
form and on payment of the prescribed fee, apply to the Registrar for the registration of
that shortened form of its name, if the shortened form of the name is not undesirable.
(2) Any person may on application on the prescribed form and on payment of
the prescribed fee apply to the Registrar –
(a) to register any name as a defensive name; or
(b) to renew the registration of a name as a defensive name,
which the Registrar reasonably believes is not undesirable and in respect of which that
person has furnished proof, to the satisfaction of the Registrar, that he or she has a direct
and material interest.
(3) If the defensive name referred to in subsection (2) is in a language other
than the official language, a translation in the official language, in so far as it is possible,
must be submitted to the Registrar together with the application referred to in that
subsection.
(4) If the Registrar grants any application referred to in subsection (2), he or
she must register the name in question as a defensive name for a period not exceeding
two years or renew the registration of the name in question as a defensive name for a
period not exceeding two years, as the case may be.
(5) The Registrar must register a shortened form of the name of the company
concerned or a defensive name, and where a registration is effected pursuant to an
application under subsection (1) or (2), the Registrar must give notice of the registration
in the Gazette.
Change of name and effect
50.(1) Any company may by special resolution change its name to a name
which the Registrar reasonably believes not to be undesirable.
(2) Where a company changes its name, it must at the same time, if a shortened
form of the name of the company has been registered under section 49(5), and that
shortened form is no longer applicable to the name of the company as changed, apply on
the prescribed form and on payment of the prescribed fee –
(a) to change that shortened form of the name to a new shortened form of the
name approved by the Registrar; or

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(b) to deregister that former shortened form of the name of the company.
(3) Where the name or shortened form of the name of a company is changed –
(a) the company must, if that changed name is not in the official language,
submit to the Registrar, in so far as it is possible, a translation of the name in
the official language; and
(b) the Registrar must –
(i) enter the new name or shortened form of the name in the register in
place of the former name or shortened form of the name;
(ii) issue a certificate of incorporation altered to meet the circumstances
of the case or a certificate that the new name or shortened form of the
name, has been entered in the register in place of the former name or
shortened form of the name; and
(iii) give notice of the change of name or shortened form of the name in
the Gazette.
(4) A change of name of a company does not affect any rights, debts, liabilities
or obligations of the company, nor render defective any legal proceedings by or against
the company, and any legal proceedings that could have been continued or commenced
by or against it prior to that change of name, may, notwithstanding that change of name,
be continued or commence by or against the company under its new name.
(5) On the production by a company of an amended certificate of incorporation
or a certificate of the change of the name of that company or a certified copy to any
registrar or other officer charged with the maintenance of a register under any law, and
on compliance with the requirements of that registrar or officer as to the form of
application, if any, and the payment of any fee prescribed by that law, if any, that registrar
or other officer must make in his or her register all alterations which are necessitated by
the change of the name of the company.
Order to change name
51.(1) If within a period of one year after the registration of any memorandum
or shortened form of a name of a company or after the registration or the renewal of the
registration of a name referred to in section 49(2) or after the date of an amended certificate
of incorporation or a certificate of change of name or shortened form of a name referred
to in section 50(2), it appears that the name contained in the memorandum or shortened
form of that name or the name referred to in section 49(2) or the changed name or the
shortened form of that changed name referred to in the last-mentioned certificate is
undesirable, the Registrar must within that period order the company concerned or the
person referred to in section 49(2) to change the name or shortened form of the name.
(2) If within a period of one year after the registration of any memorandum or
shortened form of a name of a company or a name referred to in section 49(2) or after the
date of an amended certificate of incorporation or a certificate of change of name or
shortened form of a name referred to in section 50(2), any person lodges an objection in
writing with the Registrar against the name contained in the memorandum or shortened
form of that name or the name referred to in section 49(2) or the changed name or the
shortened form of that changed name referred to in the last-mentioned certificate, on the
grounds that that name or shortened form of a name is calculated to cause damage to the
objector or is undesirable, the Registrar may, if he or she is satisfied that the objection is
sound, order the company concerned or the person referred to in section 49(2) to change
the said name or shortened form of a name.

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(3) Within a period of two years after the registration of any memorandum or
shortened form of a name of a company or a name referred to in section 49(2) or after the
date of an amended certificate of incorporation or a certificate of change of name or
shortened form of a name referred to in section 50(2), a person who has not lodged any
relevant objection in terms of subsection (2) may apply to the Court for an order directing
the company concerned or the person referred to in section 49(2) to change the said
name or shortened form on the grounds that the said name or shortened form is undesirable
or is calculated to cause damage to the applicant, and the Court may on that application
make an appropriate order.
(4) If, at any time, the Registrar reasonably believes that the name of a company,
or the shortened form of a name of a company, gives so misleading an indication of the
nature of its activities as to be calculated to deceive the public, the Registrar may order
the company concerned to change its name or the shortened form of its name, as the case
may be.
Provisions as to order to change name
52.(1) The order issued by the Registrar under section 51, including the
reasons for that an order, for the change of a name of a company or a shortened form of
a name of a company or a name referred to in section 49(2) must be issued by the Registrar
in writing and sent by registered post to the company at its registered office, or to the
person referred to in section 49(2) at that person’s last-known address, and must require
that company or person –
(a) to comply with the order within two months from the date of its issue; or
(b) to give reasons within two months from the date of its issue to the Registrar
as to why that name or shortened form of a name of a company should not
be changed.
(2) The Registrar may, on good cause shown, extend the period of two months
referred to in subsection (1) for any further period not exceeding two months.
(3) If a company or a person has submitted reasons as to why the name or
shortened form of a name of a company should not be changed, the Registrar may, after
consideration of those reasons, either withdraw that order or make a final order and
subsections (1)(a) and (2) do, with the necessary changes, apply with regard to that final
order.
(4) If a company or person referred to in subsection (1), as the case may be,
fails to comply with any order issued by the Registrar under subsection (1) or (3) within
the period or extended period referred to in subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, or
if that company or person has applied to Court for relief under section 54 and the Court
has upheld the Registrar’s order and that company or person fails to comply with that
order within two months from the date of the final decision by the Court, that company
or person commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for
every day during which the contravention continues.
Registrar may call for affidavits and shall give reasons for decisions as to names
53.(1) The Registrar may for the purposes of any decision as to any name or
shortened form of a name referred to in section 47, 48, 49, 50 or 51 call for any evidence
on affidavit or otherwise which is necessary.
(2) The Registrar must with regard to any decision or order of the Registrar
under section 47, 48, 49 or 50 furnish written reasons for that decision or order.

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Recourse to Court in matters as to names
54.Any company or person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Registrar
under section 47, 48, 49, 50 or 51 may, within one month after the date of that decision or
order, apply to the Court for relief, and the Court has power to consider the merits of that
matter, to receive further evidence and to make any appropriate order.
Formal requirements as to names of companies
55.(1) Subject to this section –
(a) the name of a public company having a share capital must include, as its
last word, the word “Limited”;
(b) the name of a private company having a share capital must include as its
last two words, the words “(Proprietary) Limited”;
(c) the name of a company limited by guarantee must include –
(i) the word “Limited” as its last word; and
(ii) the statement “(Limited by Guarantee)” subjoined to that name.
(2) There must be included in the name of any external company, the
memorandum of which has been registered under this Act, the statement “Incorporated
in … (stating the name of the foreign country concerned)” subjoined to that name.
(3) The name of a non-profit association incorporated under this Act must not
include the word and statement referred to in subsection (1)(c), but the statement “Non-
profit association incorporated under section 21” must be included in and be subjoined
to that name, but an association incorporated not for gain under the repealed Act may
instead of that statement include in and subjoin to its name the statement “Incorporated
Association not for Gain”.
(4) The name of a private company having a share capital and the memorandum
of which contains the provision referred to in section 60(b), must not include the words
referred to in subsection (1)(b), but must include the word “Incorporated”, as its last
word, in its name.
(5) If a company is being wound up by the Court or voluntarily or is placed
under judicial management, the statement “In Liquidation”, “In Voluntary Liquidation”
or “Under Judicial Management”, as the case may be, must be included in and be subjoined
to the name of the company concerned and if the winding-up order or judicial management
order is discharged, or the voluntary winding-up ceases, that statement must be omitted
from the name of that company.
(6) The addition to or omission from the name of any company of the words or
statements provided for by this section as a result of –
(a) the conversion of a company into another type or form of company;
(b) the insertion in or deletion from the memorandum of a private company of
the provision referred to in section 60(b); or
(c) the discharge of a winding-up order or judicial management order or the
cessation of voluntary winding-up,
must not be taken to be a change of name for the purposes of section 50(1), except that
subsections (2), (3) and (4) of that section apply in the case of that addition or omission
as if it were a change of name.

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(7) If a company is being wound up by the Court, or voluntarily, or is placed
under judicial management, the Registrar must, on receipt of a copy of the relevant order
of Court or on registration of a special resolution for the voluntary winding-up of the
company in terms of section 354, alter the register to include in and subjoin to the name
of the company concerned the statement “In Liquidation”, “In Voluntary Liquidation” or
“Under Judicial Management”, as the case may be, and if the winding-up order or judicial
management order is discharged, or the winding-up ceases, the Registrar must likewise
on receipt of a copy of the relevant order of Court, alter the register to omit that statement
from the name of the company concerned.
(8) If any company fails to comply with subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6)
or in any way uses a name in contravention of any of those provisions, it commits an
offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Use and publication of name by company
56.(1) Every company must –
(a) display its name on the outside of its registered office and every office or
place in which its business is carried on, in a conspicuous position and in
characters easily legible;
(b) have its name engraved in legible characters on its seal ; and
(c) have its name and registration number mentioned in legible characters in
all 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
letters, delivery notes, invoices, receipts, and letters of credit of the company.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) –
(a) the abbreviations “Ltd”, “Pty”, “Inc”, “Co” and “&” may be used for the
words “Limited”, “Proprietary”, “Incorporated”, “Company” and “and” in
a company’s name; and
(b) a company must not use the shortened form of its name unless it is used in
conjunction with its name.
(3) A director or officer of a company or a person acting on its behalf must not –
(a) use or authorise the use of any seal purporting to be a seal of the company
whereon its name is not so engraved as contemplated in subsection (1)(b);
(b) issue or authorise the issue of any notice or other official publication of the
company, or sign or authorise 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 the manner contemplated in
subsection (1)(c); or
(c) issue or authorise the issue of any letter, delivery note, invoice, receipt or
letter of credit of the company wherein its name is not mentioned in the
manner contemplated in subsection (1)(c).
(4) Any director, officer or person referred to in subsection (3) who contravenes
that subsection commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.

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(5) A director, officer or person referred to in subsection (3) who contravenes
that subsection is further liable to the holder of the bill of exchange, promissory note,
cheque or order for money or goods for the amount stated on the document if non-
compliance with subsection (3) results in default of payment by the company.
(6) A company which contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Improper use of word “Limited” or “Incorporated” an offence
57.Any person trading or carrying on business under a name or title of which
the word “Limited” or “Incorporated” is the last word, commits, unless the entity is
incorporated under this Act or any other law, an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Savings provisions regarding certain existing name registrations
58.Any registration before the date of coming into operation of this Part in
terms of a provision of the repealed Act of a name, or a translated name, of an existing
company, or any shortened form of the name, in a language other than the official language,
or of any name, translated name, or shortened form, of a company, containing a word or
expression in the other language, is for the purposes of this Act –
(a) deemed to be proper registration under the corresponding provisions of this
Act; and
(b) the use of that name, translated name or shortened form or any word or
expression contained in that name, translated name or shortened form is
deemed to be sufficient compliance with the requirements of sections 55
and 56(2)(a).
Part 3
Memorandum of Association
Requirements for memorandum of association
59.(1) The memorandum of a company must state the purpose, referred to
in section 37, for which it is to be formed and incorporated, describing the business
which the company is to carry on, or, in the case of a non-profit association, the object it
is to promote, and in addition –
(a) the name of the company;
(b) where the company in terms of section 38 elected to state or must state its
objects –
(i) the objects of the company, stating the general nature of the business
which it is contemplated the company will be entitled to carry on;
(ii) the specific ancillary objects, referred to in section 39(1), if any, which
are excluded from the unlimited ancillary objects of the company;
(iii) the specific powers or part of any powers of the company, referred to
in section 39(2), if any, which are excluded from the plenary powers
or the powers set out in Schedule 2.
(2) If the company is to have a share capital, the memorandum must state –

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Act No. 28, 2004 COMPANIES ACT, 2004
(a) the amount of the share capital with which it is proposed to be registered
and the division of the share capital into shares of a fixed amount;
(b) the number of shares if the company is to have shares of no par value; and
(c) the number of shares which each subscriber undertakes to take up, stated in
words opposite his or her name, subject to the requirement that no subscriber
may take less than one share.
(3) If the company is to be a company limited by guarantee, the memorandum
must state –
(a) that the liability of the members is limited to the amount referred to in
paragraph (b); and
(b) that each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in
the event of its being wound up while a member or within one year
afterwards, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted
before he or she ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses
of the winding-up, and for adjustment of the rights of the contributories
among themselves, any amount which may be required, not exceeding a
specified amount but not less than one Namibian dollar.
Memorandum may contain special conditions and provide for unlimited liability of
directors
60.The memorandum of a company may, in addition to the requirements of
section 59 –
(a) contain any special conditions which apply to the company, and the
requirements, if any, additional to those provided for in this Act for the
alteration of those conditions;
(b) in the case of a private company, provide that the directors and past directors
are liable jointly and severally, together with the company, for debts and
liabilities of the company which are or were contracted during their periods
of office, in which case those directors and past directors are so liable.
Form and signing of memorandum
61.(1) The memorandum must be and be completed in the form prescribed.
(2) The memorandum of a public company must be signed by not less than
seven subscribers and of a private company by one or more subscribers, stating their full
names, occupations and residential, business and postal addresses, and each subscriber
must sign the memorandum in the presence of at least one witness who must attest the
signature and state his or her residential, business and postal address.
Part 4
Alteration of Memorandum
Alteration of memorandum as to special conditions and other provisions
62.(1) Subject to subsection (3) and unless prohibited by the condition itself,
a special condition contained in the memorandum may be altered by special resolution
or in the manner specified in that special condition.
(2) Any private company may at any time by special resolution and with the
written consent of each person being then a director of the company, incorporate in its
memorandum the provision referred to in section 60(b).

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(3) A private company may by special resolution alter or remove the provision
referred to in section 60(b) and contained in its memorandum provided the alteration or
removal is confirmed by the Court if it is satisfied that that alteration or removal would
be just and equitable.
(4) Any other provision of the memorandum of a company may be altered by
special resolution.
(5) Nothing in this section authorises any alteration of a memorandum
constituting a variation or abrogation of the special rights of any class of members, except
that those rights may be altered or abrogated in the manner provided for in the
memorandum for that variation or abrogation.
Lodgment of altered memorandum
63.(1) The Registrar may, in writing, request any company which has lodged
a special resolution altering its memorandum, to lodge, within 14 days after the date of
the request, a copy of the memorandum as so altered.
(2) Any company which fails to comply with any request under subsection (1)
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day
during which the contravention continues.
Part 5
Articles of Association
Companies to have articles
64.(1) There must be registered with the memorandum of a company, articles
of association, prescribing articles for the company.
(2) The articles of a company having a share capital –
(a) if a public company, may consist of the articles contained in Table A of
Schedule 1; and
(b) if a private company, may consist of the articles contained in Table B of
Schedule 1,
subject to any additions, omissions and modifications which are stated in the articles,
and the articles contained in the said Schedule do, so far as applicable and not excluded
or modified, apply to that company, but, any condition contained in the articles of a
company for compulsory loans to be made by members of the company to the company
is invalid.
Form and signing of articles
65.(1) The articles must be and be completed in the form prescribed.
(2) The articles must be signed by each subscriber of the memorandum stating
his or her full name, occupation and residential, business and postal address, in the presence
of at least one witness who must attest the signature and state his or her residential,
business and postal address.
Consolidation of articles
66.A company may at any time after the registration of its articles, submit to
the Registrar a document in the prescribed form, containing a consolidated and full
statement of all the articles applying to the company and, on payment of the prescribed
fee, the Registrar must, if satisfied that the articles of the company have been truly stated

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in the consolidated document, endorse on that document a certificate to the effect that
the articles stated therein constitute the articles of the company as at the date of the
certificate.
Alteration of articles
67.(1) 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 is as valid as if originally contained therein, and is subject in like manner to alteration
by special resolution.
(2) Section 63 which relates to the lodgment of a copy of an altered memorandum
does, with the necessary changes, apply to the lodgment of altered articles.
Part 6
Registration, Incorporation and Deregistration
Registration of memorandum and articles
68.(1) If a memorandum and articles complying with the requirements of
this Act together with two certified copies are lodged with the Registrar in the manner
prescribed, the Registrar must, on payment of the prescribed fee and any other additional
prescribed fee, register that memorandum and articles, impress his or her seal on one
copy and endorse the date of registration and the certificate provided for in section 70.
(2) Any memorandum and articles lodged for registration must be delivered
and uplifted at the Companies Registration Office personally by a subscriber or by a
person authorised by the subscriber in writing.
(3) On the registration of the memorandum and articles of a company the
Registrar must allocate a registration number to the company concerned.
Memorandum and articles to be in official language
69.(1) The memorandum and articles of a company must be in the official
language.
(2) If the memorandum or articles of an existing company is in any language
other than the official language, the company must, within two years after the
commencement of this Act, by special resolution, substitute that existing memorandum
or those articles with a translation in the official language and no fee is payable with
regard to that substitution.
Certificate of incorporation and its evidential value
70.(1) On the registration of the memorandum and articles of a company
the Registrar must endorse on the memorandum and articles, a certificate signed and
sealed by him or her that the company is incorporated.
(2) A certificate of incorporation given by the Registrar in respect of any
company is on its mere production, in the absence of proof of fraud, conclusive evidence
that all the requirements of this Act in respect of registration and of matters precedent
and incidental to the registration, have been complied with, and that the company is a
company duly incorporated under this Act.
Effect of incorporation on company and members
71.(1) From the date of incorporation stated in the certificate of incorporation,
the subscribers of the memorandum together with other persons who may become

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members of the company, become a body corporate with the name stated in the
memorandum, capable of exercising all the functions of an incorporated company, and
having perpetual succession, but with liability, if any, on the part of the members to
contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up as provided by
this Act.
(2) The memorandum and articles bind the company and its members to the
same extent as if they respectively had been signed by each member, to observe all the
provisions of the memorandum and of the articles, subject to this Act.
Liability of members where membership reduced below minimum
72.If any public company other than a wholly owned subsidiary carries on
business for more than six months while it has less than seven members, 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 so carrying on business, is liable for the
payment of the whole of the debts of the company contracted during that time and may
be sued for the same without any other member being joined in the action.
Rights of members to copies of memorandum and articles
73.(1) A company must send to every member at that member’s request, at
cost or any lesser amount which the company may determine, a copy of its memorandum
and of its articles, or must, if so requested, afford to a member or the duly authorised
agent of a member adequate facilities for making a copy of that memorandum and articles.
(2) Any company which fails to comply with any request under subsection (1),
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Cancellation of registration of memorandum and articles
74.(1) If a company has failed, for a period of more than two years, to lodge
with the Registrar an annual return in compliance with section 181, or when the Registrar
has reasonable cause to believe that a company is not carrying on business or is not in
operation, he or she must, in accordance with subsection (10), send to the company by
certified post a letter enquiring whether it is carrying on business or is in operation.
(2) If the Registrar does not within one month after sending the letter receive
any answer or receives an answer to the effect that the company is not carrying on business
or is not in operation, the Registrar may publish in the Gazette and send to the company
by certified post a notice that at the expiry of two months from the date of that notice that
company will, unless good cause is shown to the contrary, be deregistered.
(3) At the expiry of the period mentioned in any notice referred to in subsection
(2) or on receipt from any company of a written statement signed by every director to the
effect that the company has ceased to carry on business and has no assets or liabilities,
the Registrar may, unless good cause to the contrary has been shown by the company,
deregister the company concerned, and must give notice to that effect in the Gazette and
the date of the publication of that notice in the Gazette is deemed to be the date of
deregistration.
(4) Notwithstanding the deregistration contemplated in subsection (3), the
liability of every director, officer and member of the company continues and may be
enforced as if the company had not been deregistered.
(5) The Registrar must cancel the registration of the memorandum and articles
of a company which is deregistered under this section.

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(6) When any company has been deregistered the books and papers of the
company may be disposed of in any way which the Registrar may direct.
(7) After five years from the deregistration of a company, no responsibility
rests on any person to whom the custody of the books and papers has been committed,
because of the same not being forthcoming to a person claiming to be interested therein.
(8) The Court may, on application by any interested person or the Registrar, if
it is satisfied that a company was at the time of its deregistration carrying on business or
was in operation, or otherwise that it is just that the registration of the company be
restored, make an order that the registration be restored accordingly, and after which the
company is deemed to have continued in existence as if it had not been deregistered.
(9) An order referred to in subsection (8) may contain directions and make
provision which the Court considers just for placing the company and all other persons
in the position, as nearly as may be, as if the company had not been deregistered.
(10) A letter or notice under this section must be addressed to the company at its
registered office, its postal address and to the care of the directors or officers and the
auditor of the company or may, if there is no director, officer or auditor of the company
whose name and address is known to the Registrar, be sent to each of the persons who
signed the memorandum of the company, at the address mentioned in the memorandum.
Part 7
Incidental Matters
Issued copies of memorandum or articles to embody alterations
75.(1) Every copy of the memorandum or articles of a company issued after
the date on which any alteration has been made, must include the alteration.
(2) A company which, after the date of any alteration, issues a copy of its
memorandum or articles which does not include an alteration commits an offence and is
liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Contracts by companies
76.(1) Contracts on behalf of a company may be made as follows –
(a) any contract which if made between individual persons would by law be
required to be in writing signed by the parties liable to be sued on that
contract 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 individual persons would by law be
valid though made orally only and not reduced to writing, may be made
orally 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 are valid and bind the
company and its successors and all other parties.
Promissory notes and bills of exchange
77.A bill of exchange or promissory note is deemed to have been made, accepted
or endorsed on behalf of a company if made, accepted or endorsed in the name of or by
or on behalf or on account of, the company by any person acting under its authority.

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Service of documents on companies
78.Any notice, order or other document which by this Act may be or is required
to be served on any company, including any external company, may be served by delivering
it at or sending it by registered post to the registered office or postal address of the
company.
Arbitration between companies and others
79.(1) A company may agree to refer and may refer to arbitration any existing
or future difference between itself and any other company or person.
(2) Companies which are parties to an arbitration may delegate to the arbitrator
power to settle or determine any matter capable of being lawfully settled or determined
by the companies themselves or by their directors or other managing body.
CHAPTER 5
SHARE CAPITAL, ACQUISITION BY COMPANIES OF OWN SHARES,
SHARES, ALLOTMENT AND ISSUE OF SHARES, MEMBERS AND
REGISTER OF MEMBERS, DEBENTURES, TRANSFER AND
RESTRICTIONS ON OFFERING SHARES FOR SALE
Part 1
Share Capital
Division of share capital into shares having par value or having no par value
80.The share capital of a company may be divided into shares having a par
value or may be constituted by shares having no par value, but, all the ordinary shares or
all the preference shares must consist of either the one or the other.
Company may alter share capital and shares
81.(1) Subject to sections 62 and 108 a company having a share capital, if
so authorised by its articles, may by special resolution –
(a) increase its share capital by new shares of any amount, or increase the number
of its shares having no par value;
(b) increase its share capital constituted by shares of no par value by transferring
reserves or profits to the stated capital, with or without a distribution of
shares;
(c) consolidate and divide all or any part of its share capital into shares of
larger amount than its existing shares or consolidate and reduce the number
of the issued no par value shares;
(d) increase the number of its issued no par value shares without an increase of
its stated capital;
(e) subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is
fixed by the memorandum;
(f) subject to this Act, convert all of its ordinary or preference share capital
consisting of shares having a par value into stated capital constituted by
shares of no par value, but an existing company must not convert any share
capital which is not fully paid up;

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(g) subject to this Act, convert its stated capital constituted either by ordinary
or preference shares of no par value into share capital consisting of shares
having a par value;
(h) cancel shares which at the time of the passing of the resolution in that regard,
have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the
amount of its authorised share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled
or may cancel shares of no par value which have not been taken or agreed to
be taken; or
(i) convert any of its shares, whether issued or not, into shares of another class.
(2) Where under subsection (1) a company –
(a) increases its share capital by shares of a fixed amount, it must pay to the
Registrar the prescribed amount for each N$1 000, or part of it, by which
the share capital is increased;
(b) increases the number of its shares of no par value, it must –
(i) lodge with the Registrar, in the prescribed manner, a certificate given
by the auditor of the company showing the value of each issued share
arrived at by dividing the number of issued shares into the stated
capital; and
(ii) pay to the Registrar the prescribed amount for each N$1 000 or part
of it calculated by multiplying the number by which the number of
the shares has been increased by the value of each share as certified
under subparagraph (i).
(3) If, in the case of a company which has converted its share capital under
subsection (1)(f) and thereafter passed a special resolution to convert its stated capital as
contemplated in subsection (1)(g), shares which at the time of the passing of that special
resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person –
(a) are converted as so contemplated, subsection (2)(a) does, with the necessary
changes, apply in respect of any amount by which the share capital of the
company is increased, which amount is the amount by which the nominal
share capital after the conversion under subsection (1)(g) exceeds the nominal
share capital before the conversion under subsection (1)(f);
(b) are not converted as so contemplated, those shares must be cancelled, with
the necessary changes, in accordance with subsection (1)(h).
Premiums received on issue of shares to be share capital, and limitation on
application thereof
82.(1) Where a company which is not a banking institution in terms of the
Banking Institutions Act, 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998), issues shares at a premium, whether
for cash or otherwise, a sum equal to the aggregate amount or value of the premiums on
those shares must be transferred to an account to be called the “share premium account”.
(2) Where assets are acquired by the issue of shares of a company and no
consideration is recorded, the assets so acquired must be valued and if the value of the
assets is more than the par value of those shares, the difference between the par value of
the shares and the value of the assets so acquired must be transferred to the share premium
account.

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(3) The share premium account may, notwithstanding anything contained in
subsection (1), 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 capitalisation shares;
(b) in writing off –
(i) the preliminary expenses of the company;
(ii) the expenses of, or the commission paid or discount allowed on, the
creation or issue of any shares of the company;
(c) in providing for the premium payable on redemption of any redeemable
preference shares of the company –
(i) that premium must not be so provided unless it is payable according
to the terms of issue of the shares concerned and those terms have
been embodied in the articles of the company as from a date prior to
the date on which those shares were allotted and issued or on a later
date allowed by the Court on application to it;
(ii) in the case of ordinary shares which are converted into redeemable
preference shares redeemable at a premium, only that portion of the
amount standing to the credit of the share premium account which
arose on the original issue of those shares may be applied in providing
for the premium payable on redemption; or
(d) for the payment of a premium in the case of any acquisition of shares in
accordance with sections 89 to 91, inclusive.
(4) Subsection (3)(c) does not apply in respect of redeemable preference shares
issued before the commencement of this Act.
Proceeds of issue of shares of no par value to be stated capital
83.(1) The whole of the proceeds of an issue of shares having no par value
is paid-up share capital of a company and must be transferred to an account to be called
the “stated capital account”.
(2) If shares having no par value are issued by a company for a consideration
other than cash, a sum equal to the value of the consideration as determined by the
directors must be transferred to the stated capital account.
(3) The stated capital account may, notwithstanding anything contained in
subsection (1) or (2), be applied by a company in writing off –
(a) the preliminary expenses of the company; or
(b) the expenses of, or the commission paid on, the creation or issue of those
shares.
Effect of conversion of par value share capital into no par value share capital and
vice versa
84.(1) Where a company converts all its ordinary or preference shares having
a par value, or both the ordinary and preference shares, into shares without par value,
there must be transferred to the stated capital account of the company –

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(a) the whole of the ordinary or preference share capital, as the case may be;
and
(b) the whole of the share premium account or that part contributed to it by the
shares so converted.
(2) Where a company converts all its ordinary or preference shares of no par
value or both those ordinary and preference shares into shares having a par value, there
must be transferred to the share capital account of the company the whole of the stated
capital account or that part contributed to it by the shares so converted.
(3) Fractions, fractional surpluses or amounts arising in respect of the nominal
share capital or the stated capital may be rounded off but material reductions must be
placed to non-distributable reserves.
Payment of interest out of capital in certain cases
85.(1) Where any shares of a company are issued for the purpose of raising
money to defray the expenses of the construction of works or buildings or for the provision
of plant, which cannot be made profitable for a lengthy period, the company may pay
interest on the share capital for the period and subject to the conditions and restrictions
in this section mentioned, and may charge the same to capital as part of the cost of
construction of the works or buildings or the provision of plant.
(2) Payment must not be made under subsection (1) unless it is authorised by
the articles or by special resolution of the company, and the approval of the Minister has
first been had and obtained.
(3) The Minister may, before approving payment under subsection (2), at the
expense of the company, appoint a person to enquire into and report to him or her on the
circumstances of the case, and may before making the appointment require the company
to give sufficient security for the payment of the costs of the enquiry.
(4) Any payment contemplated in this section must be made only for a period
which may be determined by the Minister and that period must in no case extend beyond
the close of the half-year next after the half-year during which the works or buildings
have been actually completed or the plant provided.
(5) The rate of any interest payable under subsection (1) must not exceed 10
per cent per annum or any other rate which may be determined by the Minister.
(6) The payment of the interest does not operate as a reduction of the amount
paid up on the shares in respect of which it is paid.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (4) the expression “half-year” in relation to
a company, means the period of six months commencing on the first or ending on the last
day of the financial year of that company.
Restriction of power to pay commission and discounts
86.(1) A company may pay commission to any person in consideration of
that person subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolute or conditional, for
any shares of the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether
absolute or conditional, for any shares of the company if –
(a) the payment of the commission is authorised by the articles;
(b) the commission paid or agreed to be paid does not exceed 10 per cent of the
price at which shares are issued or any lesser rate fixed by the articles;

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(c) the amount or rate per cent of the commission paid or agreed to be paid is –
(i) in the case of shares offered to the public, disclosed in the prospectus;
or
(ii) in the case of shares not offered to the public, disclosed in a statement
in the prescribed form and where any circular or notice, not being a
prospectus, inviting subscription for shares is issued, also disclosed
in that circular or notice; and
(d) the number of shares for which persons have agreed, for a commission, to
subscribe absolutely, is disclosed in the manner specified in paragraph (c).
(2) The statement referred to in subsection (1)(c)(ii) must be lodged with the
Registrar for registration before the payment of the commission to which the statement
relates.
(3) Save as otherwise provided in subsection (1) and subject to section 87, a
company must not apply any of its shares or capital money either directly or indirectly in
payment of any commission, discount or allowance to any person in consideration of
that person subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolute or conditional, for
any shares of the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether
absolute or conditional, for any shares of the company, whether the shares or money be
so applied by being added to the purchase price 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 price or contract price, or otherwise.
(4) Nothing in this section affects the power of any company to pay any
brokerage which it has before this Act been lawful for a company to pay.
(5) A vendor to, promoter of, or other person who receives payment in money
or shares from, a company, must have and is deemed always to have had power to apply
any part of the money or shares so received in payment of any commission, the payment
of which, if made directly by the company, would have been lawful under this section.
(6) A company which fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (2)
relating to the lodging of the statement referred to in that subsection with the Registrar,
and every director and officer of the company who knowingly is a party to that failure,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day
during which the contravention continues.
Issue of shares of par value at discount
87.(1) A company may issue at a discount shares having a par value of a
class already issued if the following conditions have been complied with –
(a) the issue must be authorised by special resolution of the company specifying
the maximum rate of discount at which the shares are to be issued;
(b) not less than one year must, at the date of issue, have elapsed since the date
on which the company became entitled to commence business or the date
of the first issue of the class of shares;
(c) the issue must be sanctioned by the Court; and
(d) the shares to be issued at a discount must be issued within one month after
the date on which the issue is sanctioned by the Court or within any extended
time which the Court may allow.

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(2) The Court may, on application for an order sanctioning the issue of shares
contemplated in subsection (1), having regard to all the circumstances of the case, make
an order on appropriate terms and conditions.
(3) Every prospectus relating to the issue of shares by the company after the
issue of the shares at a discount under this section must contain particulars of the discount
allowed on the issue of those shares or of so much of that discount as has not been
written off at the date of the issue of the prospectus.
(4) A company which fails to comply with subsection (3), and every director
and officer of the company who knowingly is a party to that failure, commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
Issue price of shares of no par value requiring special resolution
88.(1) A company must not issue shares having no par value of a class already
issued at a price lower than an amount arrived at by dividing that part of the stated capital
contributed by already issued shares of that class, by the number of issued shares of that
class, unless the issue price of those shares is authorised by a special resolution of the
company.
(2) The notice convening the meeting for the purpose of passing the special
resolution referred to in subsection (1) must be accompanied by a report by the directors
setting out the reasons for the proposed lower issue price.
(3) A special resolution under subsection (1) must not be registered in the
Companies Registration Office unless the copy lodged with the Registrar is accompanied
by a copy of the report by the directors referred to in subsection (2).
(4) This section does not apply where the issue of shares is in pursuance of an
offer for subscription to all existing members in proportion to their shareholdings, whether
with or without the right to renounce in favour of other persons.
Part 2
Acquisition by Companies of Own Shares
Approval of acquisition of own shares by special resolution
89.(1) Subject to this section, sections 90 and 91 and any other applicable
law, a company may by special resolution, if authorised by its articles, approve the
acquisition of shares issued by that company.
(2) The approval by special resolution may be a general approval or a specific
approval for a particular acquisition.
(3) If the approval is a general approval, it is valid only until the next annual
general meeting of the company, but it may be varied or revoked by special resolution by
any general meeting of the company at any time before that annual general meeting.
Company to be solvent
90.A company must not make any payment in whatever form to acquire any
share issued by the company if there are reasonable grounds for believing that –
(a) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its debts as
they become due in the ordinary course of business; or
(b) the consolidated assets of the company fairly valued would, after the
payment, be less than the consolidated liabilities of the company.

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Consequences of acquisition with regard to shares
91.(1) In the case of the acquisition of par value shares issued by the
company, the issued capital must be decreased by an amount equal to the par value of the
shares so acquired.
(2) In the case of the acquisition of no par value shares issued by the company,
the stated capital of the class of shares so acquired must be decreased by an amount
derived by multiplying the number of shares of that class so acquired with the amount
arrived at by dividing the stated capital contributed by issued shares of that class by the
number of issued shares of that class.
(3) If par value shares are acquired at a premium over the par value, the premium
may be paid out of reserves, including statutory non-distributable reserves.
(4) Shares issued by a company and acquired under this section must be
cancelled as issued shares and restored to the status of authorised shares forthwith.
(5) Shares in the capital of a company may not be acquired under this section
if, as a result of that acquisition, there would no longer be any shares in issue other than
convertible or redeemable shares.
Liability of directors and shareholders under certain circumstances
92.(1) The directors of a company who, contrary to section 90, allow the
company to acquire any share issued by it, are jointly and severally liable to restore to
the company any amount so paid and not otherwise recovered by the company, subject
to any relief granted by the Court under section 256.
(2) A director who is liable under subsection (1) may apply to the Court for an
order compelling a shareholder or former shareholder to pay to the company any
consideration that was paid to that shareholder contrary to section 90.
(3) Where the acquisition by the company of shares issued by it is in
contravention of section 90, any creditor who was a creditor at the time of the acquisition,
or who is a creditor because of a cause of debt which arose before that acquisition, or any
shareholder, may apply to the Court for an order, and the Court may, if it finds it equitable
to do so –
(a) order a shareholder or former shareholder to pay to the company any money
or return any consideration that was paid or given by the company to acquire
the shares;
(b) order the company to issue an equivalent number of shares to the shareholder
or former shareholder; or
(c) make any other appropriate order.
(4) An action to enforce a liability imposed by this section must be instituted
within three years after the date of the acquisition.
(5) Nothing contained in this section limits or diminishes any liability which
any person may incur under this Act or any other law, or the common law.
(6) For the purposes of this section and section 95, “director of a company”
includes any director of a holding company of that company.

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Procedure of acquisition of certain shares by company
93.(1) Save as is provided in subsection (2), a company that proposes to
acquire shares issued by it must –
(a) deliver or mail a copy of the written offering circular in the prescribed form,
to each registered shareholder on record as at the date of the offer in any
manner which is provided in the articles of the company for the sending of
any notice of a meeting of shareholders, stating the number and the class or
kind of its issued shares which the company proposes to acquire, and
specifying the terms and reasons for the offer;
(b) lodge a copy of the offering circular with the Registrar within 15 days of
the date that it is delivered or mailed to the shareholders of the company.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply –
(a) to the extent that it is dispensed with in terms of the special resolution passed
in terms of section 89;
(b) in the case of a company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange within
Namibia, to the acquisition by that company of shares in terms of transactions
effected on that stock exchange in accordance with the rules and listing
requirements of that exchange.
(3) Sections 168 to 171 relating to the civil liability of directors or promoters of
a company for untrue statements in prospectuses, the civil liability of experts for untrue
statements, criminal liability for untrue statements in prospectuses and the retention of
liability for untrue statements under the common law respectively, do, with the necessary
changes, apply to all documents issued in terms of subsection (1).
(4) Where in response to any offer to acquire shares, the shareholders propose
to dispose of a greater number of shares than the company offered to acquire, the company
must acquire from all of the shareholders who offered to sell, on a proportional basis as
nearly as possible disregarding fractions, except that this subsection does not apply to
the acquisition of shares in terms of transactions effected on a stock exchange within
Namibia.
(5) A company that acquires shares issued by it must, within 30 days and in the
prescribed form, notify the Registrar of the date of the acquisition, the date, number and
class of shares that it has acquired.
(6) A stock exchange within Namibia may, in addition to any requirements
contained in this Act, determine further requirements with which a company whose shares
are listed on that exchange must comply with prior to that company acquiring its own
shares.
Enforceability of contracts for acquisition by company of certain shares
94.(1) A contract with a company providing for the acquisition of shares
issued by it is enforceable against the company, except if the company cannot execute
the contract without being in breach of section 90.
(2) In an action brought on a contract referred to in subsection (1), the company
has the burden of proving that execution of the contract is or will be in breach of section
90.

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(3) Until the company has fully performed its obligations in terms of a contract
referred to in subsection (1), shareholders who dispose of their share retain the status of
claimants entitled to be paid as soon as the company is lawfully able to do so or, on
liquidation, to be ranked subordinate to creditors and shareholders whose claims are in
priority to the claims of the class of shares which they disposed of to the company, but in
priority to the claims of the other shareholders.
Subsidiaries may acquire certain shares in holding company
95.(1) A subsidiary company may, if authorised by its articles, with the
necessary changes, in accordance with sections 89 to 94, inclusive, acquire shares in its
holding company to a maximum of 10 per cent in the aggregate of the number of issued
shares of the holding company.
(2) Sections 89 and 93(1) to (4) do not apply if the subsidiary is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the holding company.
Payments to shareholders
96.(1) A company may make payments to its shareholders subject to this
section and if authorised by its articles.
(2) A company must not make any payment in whatever form to its shareholders
if there are reasonable grounds for believing that –
(a) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its debts as
they become due in the ordinary course of business; or
(b) the consolidated assets of the company fairly valued would after the payment
be less than the consolidated liabilities of the company.
(3) For the purposes of this section “payment” includes any direct or indirect
payment or transfer of money or other property to a shareholder of the company by
virtue of the shareholder’s shareholding in the company, but excludes an acquisition of
shares in terms of sections 89 to 91, inclusive, a redemption of redeemable preference
shares in terms of section 104, any acquisition of shares in terms of an order of Court and
the issue of capitalisation shares in the company.
(4) Section 92 in so far as it relates to the liability of the directors of a company
to compensate the company where shares are acquired by the company contrary to section
90 applies, with the necessary changes, to any payment made contrary to this section.
(5) If payment to a holding company by a subsidiary is in the form of shares of
the holding company, the shares so received by the holding company and for as long as
those shares are held by the holding company –
(a) no voting rights attaching to those shares may be exercised; and
(b) the votes able to be cast at any meeting of the holding company must be
reduced by the votes in respect of shares held by the holding company itself.
Part 3
Shares and Allotment and Issue
Nature of shares and payment for shares
97.(1) The shares or other interest which any member has in a company are
movable property, transferable in the manner provided by this Act and the articles of the
company.

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(2) A company must not allot or issue any shares unless the full issue price of
or other consideration for those shares has been paid to and received by the company.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a company may allot or agree to allot shares
not fully paid-up for the purpose of their being offered for sale to the public as fully
paid-up shares, but –
(a) if that offer is not made within one month from the date of the allotment or
agreement, that allotment or agreement is void; or
(b) if the offer to the public is made but not accepted in full within two months
from the date of the allotment or agreement to allot, the allotment of, or the
agreement to allot, the shares in respect of which the full issue price is not
paid within that period, is void.
Uncertificated securities
98.(1) In this section-
(a) “central securities depositor” means a public company incorporated in terms
of this Act and registered as central securities depository in terms of any
law relating to the custody and administration of securities;
(b) “participant” means a depositary institution accepted by a central securities
depository as a participant in terms of any law relating to the custody and
administration of securities;
(c) “subregister” means the record of uncertificated securities administered and
maintained by a participant, which forms part of the relevant company’s
register of members as referred to in this Act; and
(d) “uncertificated securities” means securities as defined in section 1 of the
Stock Exchanges Control Act, 1985 (Act No. 1 of 1985), which are by virtue
of this section transferable without a written instrument and are not evidenced
by a certificate, and includes options on indices of information as issued by
a stock exchange on prices of any of the instruments mentioned in that
definition, as well as any other instruments declared by the Registrar by
notice in the Gazette to be securities.
(2) This section applies to uncertificated securities, notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary contained in this Act or in any other law, the common law, an
agreement or any articles.
(3) Where any provision of this Act is not expressly or impliedly amended by
this section, this Act applies in respect of uncertificated securities in the same manner as
it applies to securities in certificated form.
(4) A company must enter in its register of members, in respect of every class
of securities, the total number of securities held in uncertificated form.
(5) A subregister which must form part of the relevant company’s register of
members must, notwithstanding subsection (15), contain the details referred to in sections
112 and 140, but, the name of any person for whom a participant holds uncertificated
securities as nominee must not form part of the subregister.
(6) A participant is responsible for entering the information referred to in sections
112 and 140 in a subregister and for ensuring the correctness of all transfers of
uncertificated securities effected by the participant.

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(7) A participant must, at the request of a company and against payment of
such fee as may be prescribed by the Minister from time to time, furnish that company
with such details of uncertificated securities in the company as are reflected in the
subregister maintained by the participant.
(8) A person who wishes to inspect a subregister may do so only through the
relevant company in terms of section 120.
(9) A company is, within seven days of the date of a request for inspection,
required to produce a subregister which reflects at least the details referred to in subsection
(6) at the close of business on the day on which the request for inspection was made.
(10) A participant must send out, to every person for whom the participant holds
uncertificated securities, a regular statement setting out the number and identity of the
uncertificated securities held on that person’s behalf.
(11) The cost and frequency of the statement referred to in subsection (10) will
be prescribed but the cost must not be borne by the person for whom the uncertificated
securities are held.
(12) Transfer of ownership in an uncertificated security is effected on the debiting
and crediting, respectively, of both the account in the subregister from which the transfer
is effected and the account in the subregister to which transfer is to be made, in accordance
with the rules of a central securities depository.
(13) A transferee does, on the entry of the transferee’s name in a subregister,
become a member of and must be recognised as a member by the company in respect of
the uncertificated securities registered in the transferee’s name.
(14) Transfer of ownership and membership in accordance with subsections (12)
and (13) occurs notwithstanding any fraud or illegality which may affect the uncertificated
securities in respect of which the transfer was effected or which may have resulted in the
transfer being effected, but, a transferee who was a party to or had notice of the fraud or
illegality may not rely on this subsection.
(15) Section 140 does not apply to the transfer of ownership of uncertificated
securities and also not to the acquisition of membership of a company as a result of such
transfer.
(16) A company is liable to a participant for such fee as may be prescribed by the
Minister from time to time in respect of the transfer of ownership of uncertificated
securities in the company.
(17) Only a participant may effect the transfer of uncertificated securities in a
subregister maintained by it.
(18) A participant may transfer uncertificated securities in a subregister
administered and maintained by it, only on receipt of an instruction to transfer sent and
properly authenticated in terms of the rules of a central securities depository or by order
of the Court.
(19) Nothing in this section prejudices any power of a participant to effect transfer
to a person to whom the right to any uncertificated securities of a company has been
transmitted by operation of law or agreement.
(20) Section 121 does not apply to a subregister.

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(21) Subject to subsection (22), a company must not issue certificates evidencing,
or purporting to evidence, title to uncertificated securities of the company, and sections
102 and 147 do not apply to uncertificated securities.
(22) Any person who wishes to withdraw uncertificated securities held by a
participant on that person’s behalf and to obtain a certificate in respect of all or part of
those securities, must notify the participant, in which case –
(a) the participant must, within seven days, notify the relevant company to
provide such a certificate and remove the details of the uncertificated
securities so withdrawn from the subregister maintained by that participant;
(b) the company must, immediately on receipt of a notice from a participant,
enter the relevant person’s name and details in respect of that person’s holding
in the company’s register of members and indicate on that register that the
securities so withdrawn are no longer held in uncertificated form;
(c) the company must, within 14 days of receipt of the notice referred to in
paragraph (a), prepare and deliver to the relevant person a certificate in
respect of the securities so withdrawn, and notify the central securities
depository that the securities are no longer held in uncertificated form; and
(d) transfer of ownership or acquisition of membership in respect of the securities
so withdrawn is not capable of being effected through a central securities
depository while they remain in certificated form.
(23) A person who takes any unlawful action in consequence of which any of
the following events occur in a register or subregister, namely-
(a) the name of any person remains in, is entered in, or is removed or omitted;
(b) the number of uncertificated securities is increased, reduced, or remains
unaltered; or
(c) the description of any uncertificated security is changed,
is liable to any person who has suffered any direct loss or damage arising out of that
action.
(24) A person who gives an instruction to transfer uncertificated securities must
warrant the legality and correctness of any such instruction.
(25) The person referred to in subsection (24), must indemnify the company and
the participant effecting the transfer against any claim and against any direct loss or
damage suffered by them arising out of that transfer by virtue of an instruction referred
to subsection (24).
(26) A participant who transfers uncertificated securities other than pursuant to
an instruction to transfer that was sent and properly authenticated in terms of the rules of
a central securities depository, must indemnify the company against any claim made on
it and against any direct loss or damage suffered by it arising out of the transfer and that
participant must, in addition, indemnify any person who suffers any direct loss or damage
arising out of the transfer, against the loss or damage.
(27) Subject to subsection (28), when any new offer of securities is made by a
company, the offeree may elect whether all or any part of the securities offered to the
offeree must be issued in certificated or uncertificated form.

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(28) A company must only issue or allot uncertificated securities to a person
who is already a client of a participant or for whom a participant has agreed to act.
(29) The Minister may make regulations regarding matters which are
supplementary and ancillary to this section and which are not inconsistent with another
provision of this Act.
(30) Any person –
(a) other than a participant, who effects the transfer of uncertificated securities
in contravention of subsection (17);
(b) who takes any unlawful action contemplated in subsection (23); or
(c) who, without proper authority, accesses any computer system or record
maintained by a participant or a central securities depository,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding N$500 000 or to imprisonment
for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Register and return as to allotments
99.(1) Every company having a share capital must keep, at its registered
office or at the office where it is made up, a register of allotments of shares.
(2) Every company must, as soon as is reasonably possible after the allotment
of any shares, enter in the register of allotments the names and addresses of the allottees,
the number of shares allotted to each of them, the amount paid for those shares and in the
case of shares allotted as fully paid-up otherwise than for cash, full particulars of the
consideration in respect of which the allotment was made and of the transaction or contract
concerned.
(3) Whenever a company makes any allotment of its shares, the company must
within one month thereafter lodge with the Registrar –
(a) a return in the form prescribed stating full particulars of the nominal and
previously issued share capital or stated capital and the number and
description of the shares comprised in the allotment;
(b) in the case of shares allotted otherwise than for cash, a copy of the contract
in writing constituting the title of the allottee to the allotment, together with
any contract of sale, or for service or other consideration in respect of which
that allotment was made or, if that contract is not in writing, a memorandum
containing full particulars of the contract, and a return in the prescribed
form stating the number and description of the shares so allotted, the name
and address of that allottee and the consideration for which they have been
allotted.
(4) If any allotment of shares becomes void as a result of any provision of this
Act, the company must, within one month after the date on which that allotment becomes
void, lodge a notice in the prescribed form to that effect with the Registrar.
(5) If default is made in complying with any of the requirements of this section,
the company, and every director or officer of the company who knowingly is a party to
the default, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
(6) Section 120 which relates to the inspection of the company’s register of
members by any person does, with the necessary changes, apply to the inspection of and
the furnishing of copies of or extracts from the register of allotments.

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Certificate of shares or stock
100.(1) A certificate signed –
(a) by two directors of a company;
(b) by one director and one officer duly authorised by the directors; or
(c) in the case of a company having only one director and no officer, by that
director,
and specifying any shares or stock of that company held by any member, is sufficient
evidence of the title of the member to those shares or that stock.
(2) A signature referred to in subsection (1) may be affixed to the certificate by
autographic or mechanical means.
Numbering of shares and share certificates
101.(1) The shares of a company having a share capital must, except in the
case of shares or any particular class of shares which rank equally for all purposes, be
distinguished by appropriate numbers.
(2) No provision in the articles of a company registered before the coming into
operation of this Act requiring shares of that company to be numbered, applies in respect
of shares which in terms of subsection (1) are not required to have distinguishing numbers.
(3) Where shares are not distinguished by appropriate numbers, the certificates
of those shares must be so distinguished, and on the registration of transfer of those
shares the certificate relating to those shares must, in addition to the distinguishing number,
bear on its face an endorsement, in the form of a reference number or otherwise, so as to
enable the immediately preceding holder of the shares to be identified.
Limitation of time for issue of share certificates
102.(1) Every company must, within two months or within any extended
time, not exceeding one month which the Registrar on good grounds shown and on
payment of the prescribed fee may grant, after the allotment of any of its shares, debentures
or debenture stock, complete and have ready for delivery the certificates of all shares,
the debentures or the certificates of all debenture stock allotted.
(2) If a company fails to comply with subsection (1), any person entitled to the
certificates of shares, the debentures or the certificates of debenture stock in question
may, by notice in writing, call on the company to comply, and if the company fails to
comply with the notice within 10 days after service of the notice, the Court may on the
application of that person make an order directing the company to comply within the
time specified in the order, and, where appropriate, it may direct that any costs of or
incidental to the application be borne by the company or by any director or officer of the
company responsible for the failure to comply.
(3) A company which, and a director or officer of a company who intentionally
fails to comply with subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Validation of irregular creation, allotment or issue of shares
103.(1) If a company has purported to create, allot or issue shares and the
creation, allotment or issue of those shares was invalid because of this Act or any other

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law or of the memorandum or articles of the company or otherwise, or the terms of the
creation, allotment or issue were inconsistent with or not authorised by this Act, any law
or the memorandum or articles of the company, the Court may on application made by
the company or by any interested person and on being satisfied that in all the circumstances
it is just and equitable to do so, make an order validating the creation, allotment or issue
of those shares or confirming the terms of the creation, allotment or issue thereof, subject
to any conditions which the Court may impose.
(2) The Court must, when making an order under subsection (1), direct that a
copy of the order be lodged with the Registrar.
(3) On the registration of the copy of the order referred to in subsection (1) by
the Registrar and after the payment of all prescribed fees, the shares are deemed to have
been validly created, allotted or issued on the terms of the creation, allotment or issue
and subject to any conditions imposed by the Court.
Redeemable preference shares
104.(1) Subject to this section, a company having a share capital, if so
authorised by its articles, may issue preference shares which are, or at the option of the
company, liable to be redeemed, except that –
(a) the shares must not be redeemed except out of profits of the company which
would otherwise be available for dividends or out of the proceeds of a fresh
issue of shares made for the purposes of the redemption;
(b) where the shares are redeemed otherwise than out of the proceeds of a fresh
issue, there must, out of profits which would otherwise have been available
for dividends, be transferred to a reserve fund, to be called the “capital
redemption reserve fund”, a sum equal to the nominal amount of the shares
redeemed, or if shares of no par value, to the book value of the shares
redeemed;
(c) the shares must not be redeemed unless and until the premium, if any, payable
on redemption, has been provided for out of the profits of the company or
out of the company’s share premium account;
(d) the redemption of the shares must be effected on the terms and in the manner
provided for in the articles of the company.
(2) Where in pursuance of this section a company has redeemed or is about to
redeem any preference shares, it has the power to issue shares, including, if the company
so decides by special resolution, shares other than redeemable preference shares, up to
the nominal amount of the shares redeemed or to be redeemed or in the case of preference
shares of no par value, up to the book value of the shares redeemed or to be redeemed, as
if those shares had never been issued, and the share capital of the company or the number
of shares of no par value must, not for the purposes of section 81(2), be deemed to be
increased by the issue of shares in pursuance of this subsection.
(3) Where new shares are issued before the redemption of the old shares, the
new shares are not, for the purposes of any law relating to stamp duty, deemed to have
been issued in pursuance of subsection (2), unless the old shares are redeemed within 30
days after the issue of the new shares.
(4) The capital redemption reserve fund may, notwithstanding 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-up capitalisation shares or for the payment of the
premium over the par value in the case of an acquisition of shares in terms of sections 89
to 91, inclusive.

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(5) If a company has redeemed any redeemable preference shares, it must, within
one month, give notice to that effect in the prescribed form to the Registrar specifying
the shares so redeemed.
(6) A company which fails to comply with subsection (5) commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the
contravention continues.
(7) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) “book value” in respect of
preference shares of no par value, means that part of the stated capital contributed by the
preference shares redeemed or to be redeemed.
(8) This section also applies in respect of any balance of any capital redemption
reserve fund created by a company prior to 1 January 1974.
Conversion of shares into certain preference shares
105.If a company has converted any of its shares into preference shares which
are, or at the option of the company are liable, to be redeemed, section 104 applies to
those preference shares.
Conversion of shares into stock
106.(1) A company having a share capital, if so authorised by its articles,
may by special resolution convert all or any of its paid-up shares into stock and reconvert
that stock into any number of paid-up shares.
(2) Where a company has converted any of its shares into stock, the provisions
of this Act which apply exclusively in respect of shares, cease to apply to so much of the
share capital as has been so converted.
Share warrants to bearer
107.(1) A public company having a share capital, if so authorised by its
articles, may, with respect to any paid-up shares, or to stock, issue a warrant stating that
the bearer of the warrant is entitled to the shares or stock specified in the warrant, and
may provide, by coupons or otherwise, for the payment of the future dividends on the
shares or stock included in the warrant.
(2) A share warrant entitles its bearer to the shares or stock specified in it, and
any shares or stock which may be transferred by the delivery of the share warrant.
Variation of rights in respect of shares
108.(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 of the company,
subject to the 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
those shares, and if in pursuance of that provision the rights attached to that class of
shares are at any time varied, the holder of a share of that class, being a person who did
not consent to or vote in favour of the resolution for the variation, may apply to the Court
for an order under section 260.
(2) The expression “variation” in this section includes abrogation and the
expression “varied” must be construed accordingly.

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(3) The company must, within one month from the date of the consent or
resolution referred to in subsection (1), lodge with the Registrar in the prescribed form
the particulars of the consent or resolution, and where a company fails to comply with
this provision, the company, and every director and officer of the company who knowingly
is a party to that failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
No offer of shares for sale to public without statement
109.(1) In this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the word –
(a) “offer” includes an invitation to make an offer to purchase;
(b) “shares” means the shares of a company, whether a company within the
meaning of this Act or not, and includes debentures and units;
(c) “unit” means any right or interest, by whatever name called, in a share,
and for the purposes of this section a person must not, in relation to a company, be
regarded as not being a member of the public because that person is a holder of shares of
the company or a purchaser of goods from the company.
(2) A person must not, either orally or in writing, make an offer of shares for
sale to the public or issue, distribute or publish any material which in its form and context
is calculated to be understood as an offer for sale to the public, unless it is accompanied
by a written statement (in this section referred to as the “written statement”) containing
the particulars required by this section to be included in the offer.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply –
(a) if the shares to which the offer or material relates are shares which are listed
by, or in respect of which permission to deal in them has been granted by,
any stock exchange in Namibia recognised by the Minister by notice in the
Gazette for the purposes of this section, and the person making the offer or
publishing the material so states in writing, specifying the name of the stock
exchange;
(b) if the offer is made or the material is published only to persons –
(i) whose ordinary business or part of whose ordinary business it is to
deal in shares, whether as principals or agents; or
(ii) who are at the time of the offer the holders of shares of the same
company;
(c) in the case of an offer in that capacity, by an executor or administrator of a
deceased estate or a trustee of an insolvent estate;
(d) if the offer is made or the material is published for the purpose of a sale in
execution or by public auction or by public tender; or
(e) if the offer is accompanied by a prospectus registered under Chapter 6 of
this Act.
(4) The written statement must be dated and signed by the person or persons
making the offer or issuing, distributing or publishing the material, and if that person is
a company, by every director of the company.

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(5) The written statement must not contain any matter other than the particulars
required by this section to be included, and must not be in characters less large or less
legible than any characters used in the offer or in any document accompanying that
statement.
(6) The written statement must contain particulars with respect to the following
matters –
(a) whether the person making the offer is acting as principal or agent and, if as
agent, the name of that person’s principal and an address in Namibia where
that principal can be served with process, and the nature and extent of the
remuneration received or receivable by the agent for his or her services;
(b) the date on which and the country in which the company was incorporated
and the address of its registered office in Namibia or, if there is no such
address, the address of its principal office abroad;
(c) the share capital of the company and the number of shares which have been
issued, the classes into which it is divided and the rights of each class of
shareholders in respect of capital, dividends and voting and the number and
amount of shares issued for cash and the number and amount issued for a
consideration other than cash, and the dates on which and the prices at which
or the consideration for which those shares were issued;
(d) the dividends, if any, paid by the company on each class of shares during
each of the five financial years immediately preceding the offer, 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;
(f) the names and addresses of the directors of the company;
(g) whether or not the shares are listed or permission to deal therein has been
granted by any stock exchange other than that referred to in subsection (3),
and, if so, which, and, if not, a statement that they are not so listed or that no
permission has been granted;
(h) if the offer relates to units, particulars of the names and addresses of the
persons in whom the shares represented by the units are vested, the date and
the parties to any document defining the terms on which those shares are
held, and an address in Namibia where that document or a copy can be
inspected;
(i) the dates on which and the prices at which the shares offered were originally
issued by the company, and were acquired by the person making the offer
or by that person’s principal, giving the reasons for any difference between
those prices and the prices at which the shares are being offered;
(j) if the shares were issued as partly paid-up shares under the repealed Act, to
what extent they are paid-up; and
(k) the date of registration of the written statement by the Registrar.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) the word “company” means the company
by which the shares to which the statement relates were issued.

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(8) There must be annexed to the written statement a copy of the last annual
financial statements of the company and subsequent interim report and provisional annual
financial statements, if any.
(9) Where the offer referred to in subsection (2) is in respect of shares of a
public company, a copy of the written statement must be lodged with the Registrar for
registration before it is issued, distributed or published, and that statement must not be
issued, distributed or published more than three months after the date of that registration.
(10) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence, and if that
person is a body corporate, every director and officer of that body corporate commits the
same offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be imprisoned
for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(11) If any person is convicted of having made an offer in contravention of this
section, the Court by which that person is convicted, may order that any contract made
as a result of the offer is void, and where it makes that order, may give any consequential
directions which are proper for the repayment of any money or the retransfer of any
shares.
Part 4
Members and Register of Members
Members of a company
110.(1) The subscribers of the memorandum of a company are deemed to
have agreed to become members of a company on its incorporation, and must, as soon as
reasonably possible after incorporation, 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, becomes a member of that company.
(3) A company must, subject to its articles, enter in the register as a member of
the company by virtue of his or her office, the name of any person who submits proof of
his or her appointment as the executor, administrator, trustee, curator or guardian in
respect of the estate of a deceased member of the company or of a member whose estate
has been sequestrated or of a member who is otherwise under disability or as the liquidator
of any body corporate in the course of being wound up which is a member of the company,
and any person whose name has been so entered in the register is for the purposes of this
Act deemed to be a member of the company.
(4) Subject to section 221(2), the bearer of a share warrant may, if the articles
of the company so provide, be deemed to be a member of the company within the meaning
of this Act, either for all purposes or for the purposes which are specified in the articles.
Trusts in respect of shares
111 .A company is not bound to see to the execution of any trust, whether express,
implied or constructive, in respect of any share.
Register of members
112.(1) Every company must, in the official language, keep a register of its
members, and must, in that register, enter –
(a) the names and addresses of the members and, in the case of a company
having a share capital, a statement of the shares issued to each member,
distinguishing each share by its number, if any, and by its class or kind, and
of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on the shares of each
member; and

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(b) in respect of each member –
(i) the date on which his or her name was entered in the register as a
member; and
(ii) the date on which he or she ceased to be a member.
(2) Where a company has converted any of its shares into stock, the register of
members must show the amount of stock held by each member instead of the number of
shares and the particulars relating to shares specified in subsection (1).
(3) Where a company has issued share warrants it must, on the issue of a share
warrant, strike out of its register of members the name of the member then entered as
holding the shares or stock specified in the warrant as if that member had ceased to be a
member and must enter in the register –
(a) the fact of the issue of the warrant;
(b) a statement of the shares or stock included in the warrant, distinguishing
each share by its number, if the share has a number; and
(c) the date of the issue of the warrant.
(4) Until a share warrant is surrendered, the particulars must be the particulars
required by this Act to be entered in the register of members, and on the surrender of the
warrant, the date of the surrender must be entered as if it were the date on which a person
ceased to be a member.
(5) The bearer of a share warrant is, subject to the articles of the company,
entitled, on surrendering it for cancellation, to have his or her name entered as a member
in the register of members, and the company is liable for any loss incurred by any person
because of the company’s entering in its register the name of a bearer of a share warrant
in respect of the shares or stock therein specified without the share warrant being
surrendered and cancelled.
(6) The register of members may be kept either by making entries in bound
books or by recording the particulars required in any other manner and, in the case of a
person who has ceased to be a member, also by microfilm or microcard or by miniature
photographic or other process which accurately reproduces and forms a durable medium
for recording and reproducing those particulars.
(7) If the register of members is not kept by making entries in bound books,
adequate precautions must be taken for guarding against falsification and facilitating its
discovery.
(8) The register of members of an existing company kept under the repealed
Act and continued under this Act in a language other than the official language is deemed
to be sufficient compliance with subsection (1).
Index to register of members
113.(1) Every company having more than 50 members must, unless the
register of members is in such form as to constitute in itself an index, keep an index of
the names of the members of the company, and must, within 14 days after the date on
which any alteration is made in the register of members, make any necessary alteration
in the index.
(2) The index –

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(a) may be in the form of a card index;
(b) is deemed to be a part of the register of members;
(c) must in respect of each member, contain a sufficient indication to enable
the account of that member in the register to be readily found.
Branch registers in foreign countries
114.(1) A company having a share capital may, if so authorised by its articles,
cause to be kept in any foreign country a register of members resident in any foreign
country (in this Part called a “branch register”).
(2) The company referred to subsection (1) must give to the Registrar notice on
the prescribed form of the situation of the office where any branch register is kept, and of
any change in that situation, and of the discontinuance of the office in the event of its
being discontinued.
Provisions as to branch register
115.(1) A branch register is deemed to be part of the company’s register of
members.
(2) A branch register must be kept in the same manner in which the register of
members is by this Act required to be kept except that the notice referred to in section
121, must, for a reasonable period of time before the closing of the branch register, also
be inserted in a newspaper circulating in the district where the branch register is kept.
(3) The company must 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 must cause to be kept at
its registered office, duly entered up from time to time, a duplicate of its branch register,
and the duplicate is, for the purposes of this Act, deemed to be part of the register of
members.
(4) The company may discontinue to keep any branch register, and must,
thereafter, transfer all entries in that register to some other branch register kept by the
company or to the register of members.
(5) Subject to this Act and to any law relating to stamp duty or estate duty, any
company may by its articles make any provision in relation to the keeping of its branch
registers.
Register of members to be evidence
116.The register of members of a company sufficient evidence of any matters
directed or authorised to be entered therein by this Act.
Where register of members to be kept
117.(1) Subject to this section, the register of members of a company must
be kept at its registered office.
(2) A company’s register of members may be kept at any office of the company
in Namibia where the work of making it up is done, instead of at the company’s registered
office, and where a company arranges with some other person (in this section called
“agent”) for the making up of its register of members to be undertaken on behalf of the
company by the agent, the register may be kept at the office of the agent in Namibia at
which the work is done instead of at an office of the company.

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(3) Any index of the names of the members of a company required to be kept in
terms of section 113 must at all times be kept at the same place where the register of
members is kept, and where the company keeps a branch register under section 114 the
duplicate of the branch register required by section 115(3) to be kept at the company’s
registered office must, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section
115(3), at all times be kept at the same place where the company’s register of members is
kept.
(4) Any company the register of members of which is not kept at its registered
office must notify the Registrar in the prescribed form of the place where that register is
kept and of any change in that place.
(5) The provisions of this section relating to the register of members of a
company and the provisions of this Act relating to the inspection or production of that
register or to the furnishing of copies of that register or any part of that register, do apply
to any agent by whom that register is kept on behalf of a company in the same manner as
they apply to the company.
Disposal of closed accounts in register
118.The parts of the register of members of a company pertaining to persons
who have ceased to be members, in whatever manner kept under section 112, may be
disposed of after the end of a period of 15 years after those persons have ceased to be
members.
Offences in respect of register of members
119.Any company which or an agent referred to in section 117 who fails to
comply with section 112, 113, 114, 115 or 117, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$800.
Inspection of register of members
120.(1) The register of members of a company must, except when closed
under this Act and subject to any reasonable restrictions which the company in a general
meeting may impose, so that not less than two hours in each day be allowed for inspection
during business hours, be open to inspection by any member or that member’s authorised
agent free of charge and by any other person upon payment for each inspection of the
prescribed amount or any lesser amount which the company may determine.
(2) Any person may apply to a company for a copy of or an extract from the
register of members and the company must either furnish that copy or extract to the
applicant at cost or any lesser amount which the company may determine for every page
of the required copy or extract, or afford that person adequate facilities for making a
copy or extract.
(3) If access to the register of members for the purposes contemplated in
subsection (1) or (2) is refused or not granted or furnished within 14 days after a written
request to that effect has been delivered to the company, the company, and every director
or officer of the company who knowingly is a party to the refusal or failure, commits an
offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$800.
(4) In the case of refusal or failure as contemplated in subsection (3) the Court
may, on application, by order compel an immediate inspection of the register and index
concerned or direct that the copy or extract required be sent to the applicant requiring it
and may direct that any costs of or incidental to the application be borne by the company
or by any director or officer of the company responsible for the refusal or failure.

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(5) This section does, with the necessary changes, apply also in respect of any
register of transfers kept by a company.
Power to close register of members
121.A public company may, after giving notice of its intention to do so in the
Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the district in which its registered office is
situated, close its register of members, or any part of it relating to holders of any class of
shares, for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 60 days in any year.
Rectification of register of members
122.(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 in the register
the fact of any person having ceased to be a member,
the person concerned or the company or any member of the company, may apply to the
Court for rectification of the register.
(2) The application referred to in subsection (1) must be made in accordance
with the rules of Court or in any other manner which the Court may direct, and the Court
may either refuse it or may order rectification of the register concerned and payment by
the company, or by any director or officer of the company, of any damages sustained by
any person concerned.
(3) On any application under this section the Court may decide any question
relating to the title of any person who is a party to the application to have his or her name
entered in or omitted from the register concerned, whether the question arises between
members or alleged members or between members or alleged 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 the rectification of the register.
Part 5
Debentures
Creation and issue of debentures
123.A company, if so authorised by its memorandum or by its articles, may
create and issue secured or unsecured debentures.
Security for debentures
124.(1) The binding of movable property as security for any debenture or
debentures may be effected by –
(a) a deed of pledge and the delivery of the movable property concerned to one
or more debenture holders or to a trustee for debenture holders;
(b) a notarial bond, collateral notarial bond or notarial surety bond executed in
favour of one or more debenture holders or of a trustee for debenture holders;
or
(c) the pledging of incorporeal rights by means of cession of those rights,
whether present or future, in due and proper form.

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(2) The binding of a ship may be effected by a deed of mortgage in the form
prescribed by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951), recorded in the
register by the proper officer at the ship’s port of registry.
(3) The binding of immovable property as security for any debenture may be
effected by a mortgage bond, collateral mortgage bond or surety bond executed in favour
of one or more debenture holders or of a trustee for debenture holders.
(4) A wholly owned subsidiary is deemed to have and always to have had the
power to mortgage any of its property as collateral security for the issue of debentures by
its holding company.
Registration of bonds and annexure to bonds and deeds of pledge
125.(1) Any mortgage bond or notarial bond in pursuance of section 124 and
any related subsequent transactions must, subject to the laws governing the registration
of mortgage bonds and notarial bonds, be registered in a deeds registry.
(2) If a bond is in favour of one or more debenture holders, a certified copy of
the debenture concerned must be annexed to that bond.
(3) If a bond is in favour of a trustee for debenture holders, certified copies of
the debenture concerned and of the trust deed by which the trustee is appointed and in
which the rights and duties of that trustee are defined, must be annexed to that bond.
(4) Certified copies of the debenture concerned and of any trust deed, if any,
must be annexed to any deed of pledge where the debentures are secured by a pledge of
movable property.
Debenture itself may be registered
126.If any debenture is executed before a notary public, it may, subject to section
125(1), be registered in a deeds registry in the same manner as if it were a notarial bond.
Issue of debentures at different dates and ranking of preference
127.In any bond or deed of pledge executed in favour of a trustee 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 those debentures, whenever issued, must rank in preference concurrently
with one another as from the date on which the pledge was constituted or the bond was
registered.
Rights of debenture holders
128.(1) Every holder of a debenture secured by a pledge or a bond executed
in favour of a trustee for debenture holders generally is, unless it is otherwise provided
by the deed of pledge, bond or trust deed and copy of the debenture annexed to it, entitled
to enforce his or her rights under that debenture as soon as it has been issued to him or
her in the same manner as if he or she were himself or herself the pledgee or the holder
of that bond.
(2) No notice of the cession of any debenture referred to in subsection (1) is
necessary in order to confer on any cessionary the rights of the cedent.
Director or officer not to be trustee for debenture holders
129.A director or officer of a company cannot be a trustee for the holders of
debentures of that company.

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Liability of trustee for debenture holders
130.(1) Subject to this section, any provision contained in a trust deed for
securing an issue of debentures, or in any contract with the holders of debentures secured
by a trust deed, is void in so far as it would have the effect of exempting a trustee from or
indemnifying a trustee against liability for breach of trust where the trustee fails to show
the degree of care and diligence required of him or her as trustee, having regard to the
trust deed conferring on the trustee any powers, authorities or discretions.
(2) Subsection (1) does not have the effect of:
(a) invalidating any release otherwise validly given in respect of anything done
or omitted to be done by a trustee before the giving of the release or any
provision enabling that release to be given –
(i) with the consent of a majority of not less than three-fourths in value
of the debenture holders present and voting in person or by proxy at
a meeting summoned for the purpose; and
(ii) with respect to specific acts or omissions or on the trustee dying or
ceasing to act; or
(b) invalidating any provision in force on 1 January 1953 so long as any person
then entitled to the benefit of that provision or who is afterwards given the
benefit thereof under subsection (3) remains a trustee under the relevant
deed; or
(c) depriving any person of any exemption or right to be indemnified in respect
of anything done or omitted to be done by that person while any provision
referred to in paragraph (b) was in force.
(3) So long as any trustee under a trust deed remains entitled to the benefit of a
provision saved by subsection (2)(b) or (c) the benefit of that provision may be given
either –
(a) to all trustees under the deed, present and future; or
(b) to any named trustee or proposed trustee,
by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths in value of the debenture
holders present in person or by proxy at a meeting summoned for the purpose in accordance
with the provisions of the deed or, if the deed makes no provision for summoning meetings,
at a meeting summoned for the purpose in any manner approved by the Court.
Power to re-issue redeemed debentures in certain cases
131.(1) Where a company has redeemed any debentures previously issued,
not being debentures convertible into shares of the company, it, unless –
(a) its articles or the conditions of issue of those debentures expressly otherwise
provide; or
(b) the debentures have been redeemed in pursuance of any obligation on the
part of the company to redeem them, not being an obligation enforceable
only by the person to whom the redeemed debentures were issued or that
person’s successors in title,
has and is deemed at all times to have had power to keep the debentures alive for the
purpose of re-issue.

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(2) Where a company has purported to exercise the power referred to in
subsection (1), it has and is deemed at all times to have had power to re-issue the debentures
either by re-issuing the same debentures or by issuing other debentures in their place,
and on that re-issue the person entitled to the debentures has and is deemed at all times to
have had the same rights and priorities as if the debentures had not previously been
issued.
(3) Where with the object of keeping debentures alive for the purpose of re-issue,
they have been transferred to a nominee of the company, a transfer from that nominee is
deemed to be a re-issue for the purposes of this section.
(4) Where a company had deposited any of its debentures to secure advances
from time to time on current account or otherwise, the debentures are not deemed to
have been redeemed because the account of the company has ceased to be in debit whilst
the debentures remained so deposited.
(5) Nothing in this section prejudices any power reserved to a company by its
debentures or securities, to issue debentures in the place of any debentures paid off or
otherwise satisfied or extinguished.
Debenture to be described as secured or unsecured
132.A company must not issue a debenture, debenture certificate or prospectus
relating to debentures unless the term “debenture” or some other term denoting a debenture
used is qualified by the word “secured” or “unsecured”, as the case may be.
Form of debentures or debenture certificates
133.(1) A company must not issues a debenture or debenture certificate unless
the conditions of the debenture concerned are stated on the debenture or on the debenture
certificate.
(2) Any debenture or debenture certificate must be signed by one director of
the company and an officer of the company duly authorised by the directors and must, in
the case where the debenture concerned is not a bearer debenture and in the case of a
debenture certificate, specify the debentures, other than bearer debentures, of that company
held by the person named in that debenture or debenture certificate.
(3) Any signature referred to in subsection (2) may be affixed to a debenture or
debenture certificate by autographic or mechanical means.
(4) Any debenture or debenture certificate issued in terms of this section is
sufficient evidence of the title of the person named in that debenture or certificate or, in
the case of a bearer debenture, of the bearer of the debenture.
Register of pledges and bonds
134.Subject to section 136, every company must keep at its registered office a
register of pledges, cessions, notarial bonds, mortgage bonds and notarial debentures
and enter in that register all pledges, cessions, notarial bonds, mortgage bonds and notarial
debentures affecting property of the company, giving in each case a short description of
the property pledged, ceded or bound, the amount of the pledge, cession or bond and the
names and addresses of the persons in whose favour any pledge, cession, bond or debenture
was executed or to whom any pledge has been delivered.
Register of debenture holders
135.Subject to section 136, every company must keep at its registered office a
register of debenture holders showing the number of debentures issued and outstanding

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and whether or not they are payable to bearer and specifying the names and addresses of
the holders, other than bearers.
Registers may be kept where made up
136.Section 117(2) and (4) relating to the keeping of a register of members and
access to that register does, with the necessary changes, apply to the registers required to
be kept under sections 134 and 135.
Inspection of registers and copies and extracts
137.(1) Section 120 in so far as it relates to the inspection of the register of
members does, with the necessary changes, apply to the registers to be kept under sections
134 and 135 and section 120(3) does, with the necessary changes, apply to the furnishing
of a copy of a trust deed referred to in subsection (2).
(2) A copy of any trust deed for securing any issue of debentures must be
transmitted to every holder of those debentures at that holder’s request on payment of an
amount equal to the cost of making that copy or a lesser amount as the company may
determine.
Failure to keep registers
138.Any company which or any agent referred to in section 117(2), as applied
by section 136, who fails to comply with section 134, 135 or 136, commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$800.
Part 6
Forgery of Certificates as to Shares, Debentures and other Securities
Forgery, impersonation and unlawful engravings
139.Any person who –
(a) with intent to defraud, forges, offers, utters or disposes of, knowing it to be
forged or altered, any certificate as to shares, debentures or other securities
as defined in section 141, any broker’s transfer form, certified broker’s form,
share warrant or coupon issued in pursuance of this Act;
(b) by means of any forged certificate, form, share warrant, coupon or other
document, knowing it to be forged or altered, obtains or receives or
endeavours to obtain or to receive any interest in any company or obtains or
receives or endeavours to obtain or to receive any benefit, dividend or money
payable in that respect;
(c) by impersonating any owner of any interest in any company, including any
share warrant or coupon issued in pursuance of this Act, obtains or
endeavours to obtain any interest or share warrant or coupon or receives or
endeavours to receive any benefit or money due to that owner, as if he or
she were the true and lawful owner; or
(d) without lawful authority or excuse –
(i) engraves or makes on any plate, wood, stone, or other material any
certificate as to any interest in a company or any share warrant or
coupon or document purporting to be any interest, share warrant or
coupon issued or made by any particular company in pursuance of
this Act or to be a blank certificate, share warrant or coupon so issued
or made or to be a part of that certificate, share warrant or coupon;

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(ii) uses plate, wood, stone or other material referred to in subparagraph
(i) for the making or printing of any certificate, share warrant or
coupon or document or of any blank certificate, share warrant or
coupon or any part of it; or
(iii) knowingly has in his or her custody or possession any plate, wood,
stone or other material referred to in subparagraph (i),
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed 10 years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Part 7
Transfer of Shares and Debentures
Registration of transfer of shares or interests
140.(1) Any transfer of shares of or interest in a company must be registered
by the company by entering in its register of members the name and address of the
transferee, the description of the shares, or interest transferred and the date of the
registration of that transfer and, if it is a transfer of partly paid-up shares of or interest in
an existing company, the amount outstanding on each share or interest, must be entered
in that register.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in the articles of a company, it is not lawful for
the company to register a transfer of shares of or interest in the company unless a proper
instrument of transfer has been delivered to the company, but nothing in this section
prejudices any power of the company to register as a member any person to whom the
right to any share of the company has been transmitted by operation of law.
(3) On the application of the transfer of any share of or interest in a company,
the company must enter in its register of members the matters specified in subsection (1)
in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as if the application for the entry
were made by the transferee.
(4) The registration of any transfer of shares of or interest in a company is
subject to the law relating to stamp duty and estate duty.
Definitions for purpose of transfer of listed shares or interests
141.In sections 142, 143, 144, 145 and 146, unless the context otherwise
indicates –
“broker’s transfer form” means the form prescribed and any substantially similar form
which is recognised by the law of the country in which the relevant transfer is registered;
“company” includes any issuer of a security;
“security” means any listed security as defined in section 1 of the Stock Exchanges
Control Act, 1985 (Act No. 1 of 1985);
“securities transfer form” means the form prescribed and any substantially similar form
which is recognised by the law of the country in which the relevant transfer is registered.
Manner in which securities may be transferred
142.(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary or the memorandum or
articles of any company or any contract relating to the transfer of any security –

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(a) a security may be transferred by means of a securities transfer form; or
(b) a security may be transferred by means of a securities transfer form and a
broker’s transfer form, but –
(i) the broker’s transfer form must be prepared –
(aa) by a stock-broker as defined in section 1 of the Stock Exchanges
Control Act, 1985 (Act No. 1 of 1985);
(bb) by a banking institution registered, otherwise than provisionally,
under the Banking Institutions Act, 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998),
and authorised in writing by the Registrar, at a branch
designated by the Registrar;
(cc) by a stock exchange in Namibia; or
(dd) by a company authorised in writing by the Registrar and
carrying on the business of a clearing-house for securities on
that stock exchange,
and must bear the signature of the stock-broker concerned or of a
person in the service of the banking institution, stock exchange or
company concerned or an authorised facsimile of that signature;
(ii) the securities transfer form need not be completed with reference to
the particulars relating to the transferee and the consideration passing;
(iii) a separate broker’s transfer form may be used in respect of each person
to whom transfer is passed.
(2) The execution of a securities transfer form or a broker’s transfer form need
not be attested.
(3) Nothing in this section contained is to be construed as –
(a) preventing the transfer of a security by means of any form authorised to be
used under the repealed Act or any form prescribed at any time under this
Act;
(b) entitling the issuer of any security to refuse the registration of any person as
the holder of that security on the ground that the transfer purports to be
effected by means of a securities transfer form or a broker’s transfer form;
(c) affecting the provisions of any law or of any memorandum or articles of
any company or other body corporate or of any contract which deals with
the manner in which any document is to be signed or sealed by or on behalf
of any company or other body corporate; or
(d) affecting the liability for the payment of any duty payable in respect of the
registration of the transfer of any security.
Certification by company that security has been lodged for transfer
143.(1) If a company, by the signature of any person duly authorised to certify
transfers of securities on behalf of the company, or of any officer or employee of a body
corporate so authorised, endorses on any instrument of transfer referred to in section 142
and executed by or on behalf of the transferor, that the certificate relating to the security
in question has been lodged with the company, the company is, for the purposes of this
section, deemed to have certified that instrument.

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(2) A certification is, for the purposes of this section, deemed to be signed if it
purports to be authenticated by the signature or initials of any person whether by
autographic or mechanical means, unless it is shown that the signature or initial is not
that of a person authorised to certify transfer of securities on behalf of the company.
(3) The certification by a company in terms of subsection (1) must be taken as
a representation by the company to any person acting on the faith of the certification that
there have been lodged with the company the necessary documents relating to the securities
mentioned in the instrument of transfer and that it appears from those documents that the
title to the securities is held by the transferor named in the instrument of transfer.
(4) The representation referred to in subsection (3) must not be taken as a
representation that the transferor named in the instrument of transfer in question has in
fact any title to the security in question.
(5) Where any person acts on the faith of an incorrect certification negligently
made by a company, that person is in the same position with reference to the company as
if the certification had been fraudulently made.
(6) Subject to subsection (3), the delivery to any person of any instrument of
transfer certified in terms of subsection (1) confers on that person the same rights as that
person would have acquired before 1 January 1974 on the delivery to him or her of a
certificate for the securities in question, and an instrument of transfer signed by the
transferor in blank.
(7) The certificates of any securities in respect of which a company has certified
any instrument of transfer as provided in this section, must on certification be cancelled
by the company.
Duty of company with reference to person under contractual disability
144.(1) When a company records in its registers the transfer of any security,
it is not be under any duty to satisfy itself that that transfer is within the contractual
power of the transferor or transferee or that any legal requisite which obtains with reference
to the ability of the transferor or transferee to transfer or to take transfer has been complied
with or that any person signing any document relevant to the transfer on behalf of any
person or company has been duly authorised to sign that document.
(2) Subsection (1) does not absolve any company from liability arising from
any fraudulent act to which it is knowingly a party.
Warranty and indemnity by persons lodging documents of transfer
145.Any person who, for the purposes of the transfer of any security of any
company, as principal or agent, lodges with that company any document relating to that
transfer, is considered to have warranted that that document is genuine and that he or
she, or when he or she is acting as agent, his or her principal jointly and severally with
him or her, indemnifies that company against any claim made on it and against any loss
or damage suffered by it arising out of a transfer registered by the company of the security
referred to in that document.
Notice of refusal to register transfer and limitation of time for issue of certificates
on transfer
146.(1) If a company refuses to register a transfer of any shares or debentures
it must, within 30 days after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with
it, send to the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal.
(2) Any company which fails to comply with subsection (1) commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the
contravention continues.

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(3) Every company must, unless it is entitled for any reason to refuse to register
a transfer and does not register it, within 30 days after the date on which an instrument of
transfer of any shares, debentures, debenture stock or securities is lodged with it, complete
and have ready for delivery the certificates in respect of the shares, debentures, debenture
stock or securities of which the transfer is to be registered.
(4) If default is made in complying with subsection (3), section 102(2) and (3)
insofar as it relates to the issue and delivery of certificates for shares, debentures and
debenture stock, does, with the necessary changes, apply.
Disclosure of beneficial interest in securities
147.(1) In this section, unless the context otherwise indicates –
“beneficial interest”, in relation to a security, means –
(a) the right or entitlement to receive any dividend or interest payable in respect
of that security; or
(b) the right to exercise or cause to be exercised, in the ordinary course, any or
all of the voting, conversion, redemption or other rights attaching to that
security,
but does not include any interest held by a person in a unit trust or collective investment
scheme in terms of the Unit Trusts Control Act, 1981 (Act No. 54 of 1981);
“exchange” means a stock exchange in Namibia licensed in terms of the Stock Exchanges
Control Act, 1985 (Act No. 1 of 1985);
“security” means –
(a) any listed security as defined in section 1 of the Stock Exchanges Control
Act, 1985; and
(b) any financial instrument which confers the right to convert that instrument
into a listed security referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) A person is deemed to have a beneficial interest in a security if –
(a) the spouse of the person married in community of property or the minor
children of that person have a beneficial interest in that security;
(b) that person acts in terms of an agreement with another person holding a
beneficial interest and the agreement is in respect of the co-operation between
them for the acquisition, disposal or any other matter relating to a beneficial
interest in that security;
(c) it is the holding company of a company that has a beneficial interest in that
security;
(d) a body corporate or trust has a beneficial interest in that security and –
(i) the body corporate or its directors or the trustees are accustomed to
act in accordance with the directions or instructions of that person; or
(ii) that person is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of the majority
of the voting rights at general meetings of the body corporate or trust;
or

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(e) the security is held by virtue of any office by another person on that person’s
behalf.
(3) Where securities of an issuer are registered in the name of a person, and
that person (“the registered shareholder”) is not the holder of the beneficial interest in all
of the securities held by the registered shareholder, the registered shareholder must, at
the end of every three month period after the commencement of this Act, disclose to the
issuer the identity of each person on whose behalf the registered shareholder holds
securities and the number and class of securities issued by that issuer held on behalf of
each of those persons.
(4) The information required in terms of subsection (3) must be furnished in
writing within seven days of the end of the three month period referred to in that subsection.
(5) An issuer may by notice in writing require a person who is a registered
shareholder of, or whom the issuer knows or has reasonable cause to believe to have a
beneficial interest in, securities issued by that issuer, to confirm or deny whether or not
that person holds a beneficial interest in those securities, and if the security is held for
another person, the person to whom the request is made must disclose to the issuer the
identity of the person on whose behalf that security is held.
(6) The registered shareholder may levy a fee for the furnishing of information
requested which has been prescribed by the Minister.
(7) A notice under subsection (5) may, in addition, require the addressee to
give particulars of the extent of the beneficial interest held during the three years preceding
the date of the notice.
(8) The information required in terms of subsections (5) and (7) must be
furnished within a reasonable time specified in the notice, but not later than 14 days from
the date of receipt of the notice.
(9) All issuers of securities must establish and maintain a register of the
disclosures made in terms of this section and must publish in their annual financial
statements a list of the persons who hold beneficial interests equal to or in excess of five
per cent of the total number of securities of that class issued by the issuer together with
the extent of those beneficial interests.
(10) The register referred to in subsection (9) must be open to inspection as if it
were a register contemplated in section 120.
(11) A person who fails to comply with this section or to make a disclosure as
required by this section or who makes a false disclosure, commits an offence and is
liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which
does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
CHAPTER 6
OFFERING OF SHARES AND PROSPECTUS
Part 1
Interpretation
Definitions for purposes of offering of shares and prospectus
148.(1) In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates –
“company” includes an external company;

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“expert” means a geologist, engineer, architect, quantity surveyor, valuer, accountant,
auditor, or any person holding himself or herself out to be such and any other person who
professes to have extensive knowledge or experience or to exercise special skill which
gives or implies authority to a statement made by him or her;
“letter of allocation” means any document conferring a right to subscribe for shares in
terms of a rights offer;
“offer”, in relation to shares, means an offer made in any way, including by provisional
allotment or allocation, for the subscription for or sale of any shares, and includes an
invitation to subscribe for or purchase any shares;
“offer to the public” and any reference to offering shares to the public means any offer to
the public and includes an offer of shares to any section of the public, whether selected
as members or debenture holders of the company concerned or as clients of the person
issuing the prospectus concerned or in any other manner;
“promoter”, in relation to civil and criminal liability in respect of an untrue statement in
a prospectus, means a person who was a party to the preparation of the prospectus or of
the portion of it, containing the untrue statement but does not include any person by
reason of that person acting in a professional capacity for persons engaged in procuring
the formation of the company or preparing that prospectus;
“rights offer” means an offer for subscription, with a right to renounce in favour of other
persons, to those members or debenture holders of a company who are not excluded
from that offer under subsection (2), for any shares of that company or any other company,
where a stock exchange within Namibia or a stock exchange recognised by the Minister
for the purposes of this definition by notice in the Gazette, has granted or has agreed to
grant a listing for the shares which are the subject of the offer;
“untrue statement”, in relation to a prospectus or portion of it, includes –
(a) a statement which is misleading in the form and context in which it is included
and a statement is deemed to be included in a prospectus if it is contained in
any report or memorandum which appears on the face of the prospectus or
which is by reference incorporated or is attached to or accompanies the
prospectus on registration; and
(b) an omission from a prospectus of any matter, whether that matter is required
to be included by this Act or not, where that omission is calculated to mislead,
and that prospectus is deemed, in respect of that omission, to be a prospectus
in which an untrue statement is included.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the articles of a company, the
company may, with the written approval of the Registrar and subject to any conditions
which the Registrar may determine, exclude any category of members or debenture holders
of the company not resident within Namibia from any rights offer.
(3) An application for a written approval referred to in subsection (2) must be
accompanied by the prescribed fee.
Part 2
Offers to Public
Restrictions on offers to public
149.(1) A person must not offer any shares to the public otherwise than in
accordance with this Act.

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(2) A person must not offer to the public any shares of any company or body
corporate which is not a company or which has not been exempted from this subsection
by the Registrar by notice in the Gazette.
(3) Any person who contravenes this section, and, if that person is a company,
any director or officer of that company who knowingly is a party to the contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Offers not being offers to public
150.An offer of shares must not be construed as an offer to the public –
(a) if it can properly be regarded, in all the circumstances, as not being calculated
to result, directly or indirectly, in the shares becoming available to persons
other than those to whom the offer was made;
(b) if it is an offer for subscription to the members or debenture holders of the
company without the right to renounce any right to take up those shares in
favour of other persons;
(c) if that offer can properly be regarded, in all the circumstances, as being a
domestic concern of the persons making and receiving it; or
(d) if it is a rights offer.
No offer for subscription to public without prospectus
151.(1) A person must not make any offer to the public for the subscription
for shares unless the offer is accompanied by a prospectus complying with the requirements
of this Act and registered in the Companies Registration Office, and a person must not
issue a prospectus which has not been so registered.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section and, if that person is a company,
any director or officer of that company who knowingly is a party to the contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Approval by stock exchange requirement for letters of allocation
152.(1) A person must not issue, distribute or deliver or cause to be issued,
distributed or delivered a letter of allocation unless it is accompanied by documents
which are required and have been approved by the stock exchange concerned.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section and, if that person is a company,
any director or officer of that company who knowingly is a party to the contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Rights offers
153.(1) A company desiring to issue a letter of allocation must lodge, with
the Registrar for registration, a copy of that letter together with the prescribed fee and a
copy of every document referred to in section 152 and every copy must be certified, by
not less than two directors of the company, as a true copy of the original approved by the
stock exchange concerned.

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(2) Every copy referred to in subsection (1) must be accompanied by a copy of
any contract referred to in that subsection and, if that contract is not in the official language,
by a translation into the official language.
(3) As soon as the Registrar has registered the documents referred to in
subsection (1), he or she must give notice of the registration to the company concerned
or the person who lodged them on behalf of the company.
(4) Every letter of allocation which is issued must –
(a) state on the face of it that a copy, together with copies of all other documents
referred to in subsections (1) and (2), have been registered as required by
this section; and
(b) be accompanied by a copy of every document lodged in terms of subsection
(1).
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to any letter of allocation issued in connection
with a renunciation of part of the rights to subscribe in terms of the rights offer.
(6) Sections 159, relating to the inclusion of a statement in a prospectus by an
expert with the consent of the expert, 161(1), and (4), relating to the inclusion in a
prospectus of a statement that issued shares are being underwritten and criminal liability
relating to that statement, 162(1), (4) and (5), relating to the signing of prospectuses,
166, relating to the invalidity of conditions waiving the application of this Act to any
transaction, 168, relating to the civil liability of directors for untrue statements contained
in a prospectus, 169, relating to the civil liability of experts for untrue statements in
prospectus, 170, relating to the criminal liability for untrue statements in prospectus and
171, relating to the retention of common law liability for untrue statements do, with the
necessary changes, apply to a rights offer and all documents issued in connection therewith.
(7) Any person who contravenes this section, and if that person is a company,
any director and officer of that company who knowingly is a party to that contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
No offer for sale to public without prospectus
154.(1) A person must not make any offer to the public for the sale of any
shares –
(a) which have been, or have been agreed to be, allotted by the company
concerned with a view to all or any of them being offered to the public; or
(b) in respect of which it has been made known in any way at or about the time
of, and in connection with, that offer, that the company concerned has applied
or intends to apply for their listing by a stock exchange in Namibia or
elsewhere,
unless it is accompanied by a prospectus which complies with the requirements of this
Act and registered in the Companies Registration Office, and a person must not issue a
prospectus which has not been so registered.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) it is, unless the contrary is proved,
sufficient evidence that an allotment of, or an agreement to allot, shares was made with
a view to the shares being offered for sale to the public if it is shown that an offer for sale
to the public in respect of those shares or any of them was made within 18 months after
the allotment or the agreement to allot.

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(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) and, if that a person is a company,
any director or officer of that company who knowingly is a party to the contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Application form for shares to be attached to prospectus
155.(1) A person must not issue, distribute or deliver or cause to be issued,
distributed or delivered, any form of application in respect of shares of a company, unless
the form –
(a) is attached to a prospectus a copy of which has been registered in the
Companies Registration Office; and
(b) bears on the face of it the date of registration of the prospectus.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if it is shown that the form of application was
issued either –
(a) in connection with an invitation made in good faith to enter into an
underwriting agreement with respect to the shares; or
(b) in relation to shares which were not offered to the public.
(3) Any person who contravenes –
(a) subsection (1)(a) commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
two years or to both the fine and imprisonment; and
(b) subsection (1)(b) commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$400.
Part 3
Prospectus
Matters to be stated in prospectus
156.(1) Every prospectus issued in terms of this Act must contain a fair
representation of the state of the affairs of the company, the shares of which are being
offered and must state at least the matters specified in, and set out the reports referred to
in, Part 1 and Part 2 of Schedule 3.
(2) If the intended offer relates to shares which are or are to be in all respects
uniform with existing shares previously issued and a stock exchange within Namibia has
not in respect of those first-mentioned shares granted or agreed to grant a listing, and that
offer is made only to existing members or debenture holders of a company with the right
to renounce in favour of other persons, the prospectus may state, instead of the matters
referred to in subsection (1), at least the matters specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3.
(3) The information referred to in subsection (1) and (2) must –
(a) be set out in print or type;
(b) not be less conspicuous than that in which the additional matter of the
prospectus is printed or typed;

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(c) be set out in separate paragraphs under the headings provided in Schedule 3
and in accordance with the instructions contained in Part 4 of that Schedule.
(4) Every prospectus in respect of an offer for the sale of shares under section
154(1)(a) must state, in addition to the matters specified in subsection (1) and (2) –
(a) the net amount of the consideration received or to be received by the company
in respect of the shares to which the offer relates; and
(b) the place and time at which a contract under which the shares have been or
are to be allotted to the issuer of the prospectus may be inspected.
(5) Any person who knowingly is a party to the issue of a prospectus in
contravention of this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to
both the fine and imprisonment.
Statement on face of issued prospectus
157.(1) Every prospectus issued must, on the face of it –
(a) state that a copy of it has been registered as required by this Act; and
(b) specify or refer to statements included therein specifying any documents
required by sections 159 and 160 to be endorsed on or attached to or to
accompany a prospectus when lodged for registration.
(2) Any person who knowingly is a party to the issue of a prospectus in
contravention of subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to
both the fine and imprisonment.
Consent of person named as director
158.A person must not be named as a director or proposed director of a company
in any prospectus relating to shares of that company unless, at any time prior to the
registration of that prospectus –
(a) his or her written consent, in the prescribed form, to act as that director has
been lodged with the company; and
(b) the return referred to in section 224(2) reflecting the relevant particulars in
regard to that person, has been lodged with the Registrar.
Consent by experts and others
159.(1) A prospectus which includes any statement or reference to any
statement purporting to be made by an expert, must not be registered by the Registrar
unless –
(a) the expert has given, and has not, before the lodging of a copy of the
prospectus for registration in the Companies Registration Office, withdrawn
his or her written consent to the issue with the statement or reference included
in the form and context in which it is included;
(b) a statement that the expert has given and has not so withdrawn his or her
consent appears in the prospectus; and

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(c) that written consent is endorsed on or attached to the copy of the prospectus
lodged for registration in the Companies Registration Office.
(2) The Registrar must not register any prospectus which names any person as
the auditor, legal practitioner, banker or broker of a company unless it is accompanied by
the consent in writing of the person so named to act in the capacity stated and to his or
her name being stated in the prospectus.
Contracts and translations to be attached to prospectus
160.(1) The Registrar must not register a prospectus unless there is attached
to it a copy of any material contract required by Schedule 3 to be stated in a prospectus
or, in the case of that contract not reduced to writing, a memorandum giving full particulars
of the contract.
(2) There must be attached to a contract referred to in subsection (1) –
(a) if it is in a language other than the official language, a certified translation
into the official language; or
(b) if it is partly in a language other than the official language, a copy embodying
a certified translation of the part which is in another language.
Where issue is underwritten
161.(1) The Registrar must not register a prospectus containing a statement
to the effect that the whole or any portion of the issue of the shares offered to the public,
has been or is being underwritten until there is lodged with the Registrar a copy of the
underwriting contract and a sworn declaration by the person named as underwriter, or, if
that person is a company, by each of two directors of that company, or if that company
has only one director, by that director, that to the best of the deponent’s knowledge and
belief the underwriter is and will be in a position to carry out that underwriter’s obligations
even if no shares are being applied for.
(2) If an offer of shares is made in respect of which no prospectus is required
by this Act, the copy of the contract and sworn declaration referred to in subsection (1)
must be lodged with the Registrar not later than the date of the proposed offer of shares.
(3) Any company which contravenes subsection (2), and any person or company
and every director or officer of that company who knowingly is a party to the
contravention, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000
or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
(4) If an underwriter is unable, when requested, to carry out that underwriter’s
obligations under the underwriting contract, any person who has in connection with that
contract made a sworn declaration as required by subsection (1) commits an offence and
is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which
does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment, unless that person
proves that when the declaration was made he or she believed and had reasonable grounds
for believing that the underwriter was or would be able to carry out those obligations.
Signing, date and date of issue, of prospectus
162.(1) A prospectus in respect of an offer for the subscription of shares of a
company must be signed by every person named in it as a director of the company or by
the agent of that person authorised by that person in writing to sign on his or her behalf.

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(2) A prospectus in respect of any other offer of shares must be signed by every
person making that offer or by the agent of that person authorised by that person in
writing to sign on his or her behalf or if the person making the offer is a company or firm,
by two directors of that company, or if that company has only one director, by that
director, or by not less than one-half of the partners in that firm or by an agent authorised
by a director or partner in writing to sign on his or her behalf.
(3) Where a prospectus has been signed by or on behalf of directors of a company
or partners in a firm as provided in subsection (2), every director of that company or
partner in that firm is deemed to have authorised the issue of that prospectus
notwithstanding that he or she has not signed it, unless he or she proves that it was issued
without his or her knowledge, authority or consent.
(4) Every signature to a prospectus must be dated and the latest of those dates
is deemed to be the date of the prospectus.
(5) The date of registration of any prospectus in the Companies Registration
Office must, unless the contrary is proved, be taken as the date of the issue of the
prospectus.
Registration of prospectus
163.(1) The Registrar must not register a prospectus unless the requirements
of this Chapter have been complied with and the prospectus is lodged with the Registrar
for registration, together with any documents which are prescribed in this Chapter, within
14 days of the date of the prospectus.
(2) As soon as the Registrar has registered the prospectus, the Registrar must
send notice of the registration to the person lodging the prospectus or to the company.
Time limit for issue of prospectus
164.(1) A company or any person must not issue a prospectus more than
three months after the date of the registration, and if a prospectus is so issued, it is
deemed to be a prospectus which has not been registered.
(2) A person who knowingly is a party to the issue of a prospectus in
contravention of subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or
to both the fine and imprisonment.
Advertisement as to prospectus
165.(1) Every newspaper or other advertisement whatsoever offering or
calling attention to an offer or intended offer of shares of a company to the public is
deemed to be a prospectus issued by the person responsible for publishing or disseminating
the advertisement and all the legal requirements as to the contents of prospectuses and as
to the liability in respect of statements in and omissions from prospectuses or otherwise
relating to prospectuses apply to the advertisement, unless it contains no more information
than the following –
(a) the number and description of the shares concerned;
(b) the name and date of registration of the company;
(c) the general nature of the business or proposed business actually carried on
or to be carried on by the company;
(d) the names and addresses of the directors;

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(e) the places at and times during which copies of the prospectus may be
obtained;
(f) where all the shares which are the subject of an offer are intended to be
offered only to the members of a company or debenture holders, as the case
may be, with or without the right to renounce in favour of other persons –
(i) the issue price of those shares;
(ii) the ratio in which those shares will be offered to the members or
debenture holders entitled to accept the offer; and
(iii) the last day on which members or debenture holders must register as
such in order to be entitled to receive the offer;
(g) the last day for subscribing.
(2) No statement that, or to the effect that, the advertisement referred to in
subsection (1) is not a prospectus prevents the operation of this section.
Waiver of requirements of this Chapter void
166.Any condition requiring any applicant for shares to waive compliance with
any requirements of this Chapter or purporting to affect him or her with notice of any
contract, document or matter not specifically referred to in the prospectus, is void.
Variation of contract mentioned in prospectus
167.A company must not, within one year after the date of registration of a
prospectus, vary or agree to the variation of the terms of a contract referred to in that
prospectus unless the variation in specific terms is authorised or ratified by a general
meeting of members of the company of which notice has been given on a date not earlier
than six months after the date of registration of the prospectus.
Liability for untrue statements in prospectus
168.(1) Where shares are offered to the public for subscription in pursuance
of a prospectus, every person –
(a) who is, at the time of the issue of the prospectus, a director of the company;
(b) who becomes a director at any time between the issue of the prospectus and
the holding of the first general meeting of the company at which directors
are elected or appointed;
(c) who with his or her authority is named in the prospectus as a director or as
having agreed to become a director either immediately or after an interval
of time;
(d) who is a promoter of the company; or
(e) who has authorised the issue of the prospectus,
is liable to pay compensation to all persons who have acquired any shares on the faith of
the prospectus for the loss or damage they have sustained because of any untrue statement
in the prospectus, or in any report or memorandum appearing on the face of, or issued
with, or by reference incorporated in the prospectus.

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(2) Where shares are offered to the public for sale in pursuance of a prospectus,
every person –
(a) who has made that offer;
(b) who under section 162(3) is deemed to have authorised the issue of that
prospectus; or
(c) who is in relation to the company the shares of which are so offered, a
person referred to in subsection (1),
is liable to pay compensation to all persons who have acquired any shares on the faith of
the prospectus for the loss or damage they have sustained because of any untrue statement
in the prospectus, or in any report or memorandum appearing on the face of, or issued
with, or by reference incorporated in the prospectus.
(3) The liability provided for in subsection (1) or (2) does not attach to any
person if it is proved –
(a) with respect to any untrue statement not purporting to be made on the
authority of an expert or of a public official document or statement, that he
or she had reasonable ground to believe, and did up to the time of the
allotment of the shares or the acceptance of the offer, as the case may be,
believe that the statement was true;
(b) with respect to any untrue statement purporting to be a statement by or
contained in what purports to be a copy of or extract from the report or
valuation of an expert, that it fairly represented the statement or was a correct
and fair copy of or extract from the report or valuation and that the defendant
had reasonable ground 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 that that person had given the consent required by this Act to
the issue of the prospectus or the making of the offer and had not withdrawn
that consent before lodgment of a copy of the prospectus for registration or,
to the defendant’s knowledge, before allotment or before the acceptance of
the offer;
(c) with respect to any 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 statement, that it was a correct and fair representation
of the statement or copy of or extract from the document; or
(d) that –
(i) having consented to become a director of the company, he or she
withdrew his or her consent before the issue of the prospectus and
that it was issued without his or her authority or consent; or
(ii) the prospectus was issued without his or her knowledge or consent
and that on becoming aware of its issue, he or she immediately gave
reasonable public notice that it was issued without his or her
knowledge or consent; or
(iii) after the issue of the prospectus and before allotment or acceptance
he or she, on becoming aware of any untrue statement, withdrew his
or her consent and gave reasonable public notice of the withdrawal
and of the reason for the withdrawal.

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(4) Where the prospectus contains the name of a person as a director of the
company, or as having agreed to become a director, and he or she has not consented to
become a director, or has withdrawn his or her consent before the issue of the prospectus
and has not authorised or consented to the issue of the prospectus, the directors of the
company, other than those without whose knowledge or consent the prospectus was
issued, and any other person who issued it or authorised the issue, are liable to indemnify
the person named as director of the company, against all damages, costs and expenses
for which he or she is liable because of his or her name having been so stated in the
prospectus or in defending himself or herself against any action or legal proceedings
brought against him or her in respect of the matter.
(5) Every person who because of his or her being a director or having been
named as a director, or having agreed to become a director, or of his or her having
authorised the issue of the prospectus or of his or her having become a director between
the issue of the prospectus and the holding of the first general meeting of the company at
which directors are elected or appointed, has satisfied any liability to make payment
under this section, may recover a contribution, as in cases of contract, from any other
person, who, if sued separately, would have been liable to make the same payment,
unless the person who has satisfied that liability was, and that other person was not,
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.
Liability of experts and others
169.(1) Where the consent of any person is required under section 159 and
he or she has given that consent, that person is not, because of his or her having given it,
liable as a person who has authorised the issue of the prospectus either –
(a) under section 168(1) or (2) to compensate persons subscribing or purchasing
on the faith of the prospectus, except in respect of any untrue statement
purporting to be made by him or her as an expert; or
(b) under section 168(4) to indemnify any person against liability under section
168(1) or (2).
(2) The person referred to in subsection (1) is, in respect of any untrue statement
purporting to be made by him or her as an expert, liable under section 168(1) or (2),
unless one of the following things, is proved, namely –
(a) that having given his or her consent he or she withdrew it in writing before
lodgment of a copy of the prospectus for registration;
(b) that after lodgment of a copy of the prospectus for registration and before
allotment to, or before acceptance by, the person complaining, he or she, on
becoming aware of the untrue statement, withdrew his or her consent in
writing and gave reasonable public notice of the withdrawal and of the reason
for withdrawal; or
(c) that he or she was competent to make the statement and that he or she had
reasonable grounds to believe and did up to the time of the allotment of the
shares or the acceptance of the offer, as the case may be, believe that the
statement was true.
(3) Where under section 159 the consent of any person is required to the issue
of a prospectus, and that person either has not given that consent or has withdrawn it
before the issue of the prospectus, that person is entitled to indemnity under section 168
as if he or she had without his or her consent been named in the prospectus as a director
of the company.

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Offences in respect of untrue statements in prospectus
170.(1) Where a prospectus contains a statement which is untrue, every person
referred to in section 168(1) or (2) does, subject to subsections (3) and (4), commit an
offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a
period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(2) Where there is published with or as part of a prospectus a report of any
expert or an extract from that report and the report or extract contains a statement which
is untrue, the expert does, provided that expert has given his or her consent to the inclusion
of that statement in the prospectus in the form and context in which it appears, and
subject to subsections (3) and (4), commit an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or
to both the fine and imprisonment.
(3) In any prosecution under this section of any person it is a defence if it is
proved either that the untrue statement was immaterial or –
(a) with respect to any untrue statement not purporting to be made on the
authority of an expert or of a public official document or statement, that the
person charged had, after reasonable investigation, reasonable ground to
believe and did up to the time of the allotment of the shares or acceptance of
the offer believe that the statement was true, and that there was no omission
to state any material fact necessary to make the statement as set out not
misleading;
(b) with respect to any untrue statement purporting to be a statement by or
contained in what purports to be a copy of or extract from a report or valuation
of an expert, that the person charged had reasonable ground to believe and
did believe that the person making the report or valuation was competent to
make it;
(c) with respect to any untrue statement purporting to be a statement made by
an ignore or contained in what purports to be a copy of or extract from a
public official document, that it was a correct and fair representation of the
statement or copy of or extract from the document.
(4) In any prosecution under this section of any person it is a defence if it is
proved –
(a) that having consented to become a director of the company he or she
withdrew his or her consent before the issue of the prospectus, and that it
was issued without his or her authority or consent;
(b) that the prospectus was issued without his or her knowledge or consent, and
that on becoming aware of its issue he or she immediately gave reasonable
public notice that it was issued without his or her knowledge or consent; or
(c) that after the issue of the prospectus and before allotment or acceptance, he
or she, on becoming aware of any untrue statement, withdrew his or her
consent and gave reasonable public notice of the withdrawal, and of the
reason for the withdrawal.
No diminution of liability under any other law or common law
171.Nothing in this Chapter contained limits or diminishes any liability which
any person may incur under this Act apart from this Chapter, or under any other law, or
under the common law.

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Part 4
Allotment and Acceptance after Offer to Public
Time limit as to allotment or acceptance
172.(1) A company must not allot any shares offered to the public for
subscription and an offeror must not accept any offer to purchase any shares offered for
sale to the public unless the application concerned is received by the company or the
offeror, as the case may be, before the expiry of a period of four months after the date of
registration of the prospectus.
(2) Any director or officer of a company or any offeror or, if the offeror is a
company, any director or officer of that company who knowingly contravenes or permits
the contravention of subsection (1) with respect to allotment or acceptance of an offer
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
No allotment unless minimum subscription received
173.(1) Shares must not be allotted on any application made in pursuance of
a prospectus for subscription unless the amount stated in that prospectus as the minimum
amount which in the opinion of the directors of the company concerned must be raised
by the issue of share capital in order to provide for the matters specified in paragraph 21
of Schedule 3 to this Act has been subscribed and the amount so stated has been paid to
and received by the company.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) –
(a) an amount stated in any cheque received by the company must not be taken
to have been paid to and received by it until the amount of the cheque has
been unconditionally credited to its account with its bankers; and
(b) any amount paid to and received by the company must be reduced by the
amount of any money, bill, promissory note or cheque which it has at any
time delivered to the payer otherwise than in discharge of a genuine debt
due to that payer by the company.
(3) The amount so stated in the prospectus must be reckoned exclusively of
any amount payable otherwise than in cash and is in this Act referred to as “the minimum
subscription”.
(4) The amount paid on application must be set apart by the directors as a separate
fund in a separate account with a banking institution registered under the Banking
Institutions Act, 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998), and is not be available for the purposes of the
company or for the satisfaction of its debts until the minimum subscription has been
made up.
(5) If the requirements provided for in subsection (1) have not been complied
with at the end of 60 days after the issue of the prospectus, all moneys received from
applicants for shares must, as soon as is reasonably possible, be repaid to them without
interest, and, if that money is not so repaid within a period of 80 days after the issue of
the prospectus, the directors and officers of the company are jointly and severally liable
to repay that money with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum or any other rate
which has been determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette reckoned from the
end of the period of 80 days.
(6) It is a defence to any claim under subsection (5), or any charge under
subsection (7), to prove that the default which is the subject of the claim or charge, was
not due to any misconduct or negligence on the part of the defendant or the accused.

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(7) Any director or officer of the company who knowingly contravenes or
permits the contravention of this section, does, in addition to any other liability incurred
under subsection (5), commit an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the
fine and imprisonment.
No allotment or acceptance if application form not attached to prospectus
174.(1) A company must not allot any shares offered to the public for
subscription and an offeror must not accept any offer to purchase any shares offered for
sale to the public unless the subscription or offer has been made on an application form
which has been attached to a prospectus as required by section 155 or unless it is shown
that the applicant, at the time of the application concerned, was in fact in possession of a
copy of the prospectus or was aware of its contents.
(2) Any director or officer of a company or any offeror or if the offeror is a
company, any director or officer of that company who knowingly contravenes or permits
the contravention of subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$2 000.
Voidable allotment
175.(1) An allotment made by a company to an applicant, or the acceptance
of an offer made by an applicant, in contravention of section 172, 173 or 174 is voidable
at the instance of the applicant concerned within 30 days after the date of allotment or
acceptance, and not later.
(2) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding that the company concerned may
be in the course of being wound up.
(3) When an allotment or an acceptance is declared void under subsection (1),
every director and every officer of the company concerned or the offeror, and if the
offeror is a company, every director and every officer of the company, becomes liable to
compensate the company concerned and the applicant for any loss, damages or costs
which that company or the applicant has sustained or incurred.
(4) Proceedings to recover any loss, damages or costs referred to in subsection
(3) must not be commenced after the expiry of two years from the date of the relevant
allotment or acceptance.
Minimum interval before allotment or acceptance
176.(1) Allotment of shares or acceptance of an offer in respect of shares of
a company must not be made in pursuance of a prospectus, and proceedings must not be
taken on applications made in pursuance of a prospectus, until the beginning of the third
day after that on which the prospectus is first issued or any later time which is specified
in the prospectus.
(2) The beginning of the third day or the later time is in this Chapter referred to
as “the time of the opening of the subscription lists or offer”.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the reference to the day on which the
prospectus is first issued must be construed as a reference to the day on which it is first
issued as a newspaper advertisement, or, if it is not issued as a newspaper advertisement
before the third day after that on which it is first issued in any other manner, as a reference
to the day on which it is first issued in any other manner.

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(4) The validity of an allotment or acceptance is not affected by any
contravention of subsection (1), but, if there is any contravention, the company concerned,
and every director and every officer of the company and the offeror, and, if the offeror is
a company, every director and every officer who knowingly is a party to the contravention,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000.
(5) An application for shares of a company which is made in pursuance of a
prospectus is not revocable before the expiry of the third day after the time of the opening
of the subscription lists or offer or the giving before the expiry of the said third day, of a
public notice under section 168 having the effect of excluding or limiting the liability
under that section of the person giving that notice.
(6) In reckoning any number of days for the purposes of this section, Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays must not be taken into account.
Conditional allotment if prospectus states shares to be listed by stock exchange
177.(1) A prospectus containing a statement to the effect that application has
been or will be made for permission for the shares offered thereby to be dealt in on a
stock exchange must not be issued unless that application has been made in accordance
with the requirements of the stock exchange concerned on or before the date of issue of
the prospectus and it names the particular stock exchange to which the application has
been made.
(2) Any allotment of shares in pursuance of a prospectus referred to in subsection
(1) is subject to the condition that the application for permission for those shares to be
dealt in on the stock exchange concerned, is granted or that an appeal against a refusal of
that application, is upheld.
(3) Any money received in respect of applications for shares in pursuance of a
prospectus referred to in subsection (1) must be set apart by the directors of the company
as a separate fund in a separate account with a banking institution registered under the
Banking Institutions Act, 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998), and is not be available for the purposes
of the company or for the satisfaction of its debts so long as the company may in terms of
subsection (4) become liable for the repayment.
(4) If any issue of shares in pursuance of a prospectus referred to in subsection
(1) is oversubscribed, the directors of the company must, as soon as is reasonably possible,
repay the amounts oversubscribed to the applicants.
(5) Where the application for permission to deal in the shares on a stock exchange
has been refused and no appeal has been noted or when an appeal against the refusal of
an application has been dismissed or an appeal against the granting of an application has
been upheld, the company must, within 14 days, repay all moneys received in respect of
applications made in pursuance of the prospectus together with any interest earned, if
any.
(6) If the money contemplated in subsection (5) is not repaid within 14 days
after the company becomes liable to repay it, the directors and officers of the company,
together with the company, are jointly and severally liable to repay that money with
interest at the rate of six per cent or any other rate which has been determined by the
Minister by notice in the Gazette per annum from the expiry of the 14
th day.
(7) If subsection (1), (3) or (5) is contravened or not complied with, the company,
and every director or officer of the company who knowingly is a party to that contravention
or non-compliance, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the
fine and imprisonment.

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(8) It is a defence to any claim under subsection (6) or any charge under
subsection (7) to prove that the default which is the subject of the claim or the contravention
or non-compliance was not due to misconduct or negligence on the part of the defendant
or the accused.
(9) This section –
(a) does in relation to any shares agreed to be taken by a person underwriting
an offer of the shares by a prospectus, have effect as if that person had
applied in pursuance of the prospectus;
(b) must, in the case of a prospectus offering shares for sale, be construed,
except in so far as the context otherwise indicates –
(i) as if any reference to the allotment of shares were a reference to the
acceptance of the offer;
(ii) subject to subparagraph (iii), as if any reference to a company by
which a prospectus has been issued, or a director or officer, were a
reference to the person by whom the shares have been offered; and
(iii) where the person by whom the shares have been offered is a company,
as if the reference to a director or officer of a company by which a
prospectus has been issued, were a reference to a director or officer
of the company by which the shares have been offered for sale.
(10) In calculating any number of days for the purposes of this section, Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays must not be taken into account.
CHAPTER 7
ADMINISTRATION OF COMPANIES
Part 1
General
Postal address and registered office of company
178.(1) Every company, including every external company, must have in
Namibia –
(a) a postal address to which all communications and notices may be addressed;
and
(b) a registered office to which all communications and notices may be addressed
and at which all process may be served.
(2) On incorporation of a company, notice of the situation of the registered
office and of the postal address must be given to the Registrar.
(3) At least 21 days’ notice of any intended change in the situation of the
registered office or of the postal address must be given to the Registrar, but, if less than
21 days’ notice of an intended change in the situation of the registered office or postal
address is given, the Registrar may determine the date on which the change will take
effect.
(4) Particulars of which notice was given to the Registrar in terms of subsection
(2) or (3), must be recorded by the Registrar, and the Registrar must notify the company
of the date on which the particulars of any change referred to in subsection (3) have been
recorded by him or her.

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(5) A change in the situation of the registered office or of the postal address of
a company does not, for the purposes of this Act, take effect unless the Registrar has
recorded the particulars of the change.
(6) Any notice referred to in this section must be in the prescribed form.
(7) A company which fails to comply with any requirement of this section,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
Names of directors to be stated on certain documents of company
179.(1) A company must not issue or send to any person in Namibia any
trade catalogue, trade circular or business letter bearing the company’s name unless there
is stated on it in respect of every director –
(a) his or her present forenames, or the initials, and present surname;
(b) any former forenames and surnames not being those referred to in section
223 (3);
(c) if not Namibian, his or her nationality.
(2) Any company which fails to comply with any provision of subsection (1),
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$200.
Certificate to commence business
180.(1) A company having a share capital must not commence business or
exercise any borrowing powers unless and until the Registrar has under this section
issued under his or her hand and seal a certificate entitling the company to commence
business.
(2) In the case of a public company which has issued a prospectus for the
subscription for shares before a certificate to commence business has been issued, the
certificate to commence business must be issued on the application of the company in
the prescribed manner accompanied by an affidavit by a director or secretary of the
company to the effect –
(a) that every director has paid to the company for each of the shares taken or
contracted to be taken by him or her, and for which he or she is liable to pay
in cash, the full subscription price;
(b) that shares paid for in cash have been allotted to a total amount of not less
than the minimum subscription stated in the prospectus; and
(c) that no money is or may become repayable to applicants for any shares
which have been offered to the public because of the refusal of an application
for permission for the shares to be dealt in on a stock exchange or the
dismissal of an appeal against that refusal,
and accompanied by the return prescribed by section 224(2) and proof of payment of the
annual duty referred to in section 182.
(3) In the case of every company having a share capital, a certificate to
commence business must be issued on the application of the company in the prescribed
manner accompanied by –

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(a) a statement of the opinion of each director to the effect that the capital of
the company is adequate for the purposes of the company and its business
or, if he or she is of the opinion that it is inadequate, the reasons and the
manner in which and the sources from which the company is to be financed
and the extent of the financing;
(b) the return referred to in section 224(2);
(c) proof of payment of the annual duty referred to in section 182;
(d) the consent to act as auditor, if not already lodged.
(4) Any certificate to commence business issued by the Registrar is conclusive
evidence that the company is entitled to commence business.
(5) Any contract made by a company before the date on which it is entitled to
commence business is provisional only and becomes binding on the company on that
date and not earlier.
(6) Until a certificate entitling a company to commence business is issued, the
directors and the subscribers of the memorandum of the company are jointly and severally
liable for all the debts and liabilities arising from any business conducted by the company
in contravention of subsection (1).
(7) Nothing in this section prevents the simultaneous offer for subscription or
allotment of any shares and debentures of the company or the receipt of any money
payable on application for debentures.
(8) If a company contravenes subsection (1), every person who is responsible
for or knowingly is a party to the contravention does, in addition to any other liability
incurred, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400 for
every day during which the contravention continues.
(9) This section does not apply to an existing company which was entitled,
under the repealed Act, to commence business or exercise borrowing powers.
Annual return
181.(1) Every company having a share capital must, not later than one month
after the end of its financial year, and, where any financial year is changed, also not later
than one month after the end of that financial year, in the prescribed form, lodge with the
Registrar a return, referred to as the annual return, specifying the following particulars in
regard to the company as at the date of the end of its financial year –
(a) the name of the company, its registration number, the situation of its
registered office and its postal address and the place where the registers of
members, debenture holders, allotments, interests in shares and debentures
under section 238 and interests in contracts under section 248 are kept, if
they are not kept at the registered office;
(b) a description of the business actually carried on by the company;
(c) the date on which its financial year ends;
(d) the date on which its last annual general meeting was held and, if an extension
of time was applied for, a statement to that effect;
(e) in the case of a public company, the date on which the last interim report
was issued by the company;

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(f) the full names, addresses and dates of appointment of the directors and
officers of the company;
(g) the name and address of the auditor of the company;
(h) the nominal and issued share capital, its division into shares and the amount
of any share premium account or the stated capital and the number of issued
and unissued shares of no par value, and any changes therein during the
period covered by the returns, specifying each class of shares;
(i) the amount of any undistributable reserve fund of the company, to the extent
that it consists of an amount transferred from its share premium account;
(j) the amount and class of debentures issued and any changes therein during
the period covered by the return;
(k) in the case of a public company, whether it has issued any share warrants
and their particulars;
(l) a list of the special resolutions passed and the forms, notices and returns
prescribed by this Act lodged with the Registrar during the period covered
by the return and the respective dates on which they were so lodged; and
(m) in the case of a private company, the number of its members; and
(n) any other matters which may be prescribed.
(2) Every company limited by guarantee must, not later than one month after
the end of its financial year, lodge with the Registrar a return in the prescribed form,
specifying the particulars referred to in subsection (1)(a), (c), (d), (f), (g), (l) and (n), as
at the date of the end of its financial year.
(3) The return referred to in subsection (1) or (2) must be signed by one of the
directors and the secretary, if any, of the company and a copy of the return must be kept
in the registered office of the company.
(4) A private company must annex to any return required to be lodged by it in
terms of this section a certificate in the prescribed form, signed by a director or the
secretary, if any, of the company to the effect that the company has during the period
covered by the return complied with the requirements of section 22(1)(b) and (c).
(5) Every return under this section must be accompanied by proof of payment
of the annual duty referred to in section 182.
(6) Any company which fails to comply with any requirements of this section,
commits an offence and is liable to fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day
during which the contravention continues.
(7) Section 120 in so far as it relates to the inspection of the register of members
of a company and the furnishing of copies or extracts does, with the necessary changes,
apply to the annual return by a company.
Annual duty
182.(1) Subject to section 183, every company other than a non-profit
association incorporated under section 21, must –
(a) before a certificate to commence business is issued to it; or

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(b) in the case of a company limited by guarantee, on its incorporation; and
thereafter not later than one month after the end of every financial year, pay an annual
duty.
(2) The Minister must prescribe the rate of the annual duty, and the minimum
and maximum annual duty payable in respect of each company.
(3) Subsection (1) applies to every company in respect of which no winding-up
order has been granted or which has not been deregistered under section 74, but –
(a) if any winding-up order is discharged or declared void, the company
concerned must within 30 days thereafter pay the annual duty provided for
in subsection (1), or a part of the duty as the Court may direct; or
(b) if a company is deregistered under section 74(3) it ceases to be liable for
payment of any annual duty provided for in subsection (1) which was owing
by it on the date of its deregistration, but if any deregistered company is
restored to the register of companies, the company concerned must within
30 days thereafter pay the annual duty provided for in subsection (1) or a
part of the duty as the Court may direct.
(4) If a company commences business within its financial year, and there is an
intervening period of six months or less between the date of commencement of business
and the end of the financial year, the amount of the annual duty is half the amount of the
annual duty payable for a full financial year.
(5) If a company changes its financial year under section 293(2)(b), the amount
of the annual duty payable for the additional period is half of the annual duty payable for
a full financial year.
(6) A company which fails to pay the prescribed annual duty within the
prescribed period or pays an amount less than prescribed must pay the additional fees
prescribed under section 186.
Annual duty payable by external company
183.(1) Every external company must pay an annual duty as prescribed under
section 182(2), but, where an external company has established and maintains a place of
business in Namibia solely for the purpose of maintaining a share registration office or a
share transfer office, the annual duty payable by that company is the minimum annual
duty payable under section 182(2).
(2) The annual duty referred to in subsection (1) is payable –
(a) on lodgment of the memorandum of the external company for registration
under section 328; and
(b) thereafter not later than one month after the end of every financial year.
(3) Section 182(3), (4), (5), and (6) relating to the non-payment of annual duty
after issue of a winding-up order or deregistration, reduction of annual duty payable in
certain cases and payment of additional annual duty in certain cases does, with the
necessary changes, apply in respect of the annual duty payable by an external company.
Enforcement of duty of company to make returns to Registrar
184.(1) If a company, having failed to comply with any provision of this Act
which requires it to lodge with, deliver or send to the Registrar any return, annual financial

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statements or other document, or to give notice to him or her of any matter, fails to
comply within 14 days after the Registrar, on his or her own initiative or on application
by any member or creditor of the company, has sent to the company a reminder by
certified post to the company’s registered office requiring it to do so, the Registrar may
direct the company or any officer of the company, by written notice served on the company
or officer or sent to the company or officer by certified post to the registered office of the
company, to comply with the request within 30 days of the date on which the notice was
served or sent.
(2) If the company on which or the officer on whom a notice referred to in
subsection (1) was served or to which or whom, as the case may be, it was sent, within
the period of 30 days fails to –
(a) make good the default; or
(b) satisfy the Registrar that, on good cause shown, a penalty ought not to be
imposed,
the Registrar may, by further written notice served on the company or officer concerned
or sent to the company or officer by registered post to the registered office of the company,
impose on that company or officer a penalty of an amount as may from time to time be
prescribed.
(3) When the Registrar has served a notice on or sent a notice to a company or
an officer under subsection (2), the Registrar may, not less than 21 days after the date on
which that notice was served or sent, forward a certified copy to the clerk of the
magistrate’s court in whose area of jurisdiction the registered office of the company is
situated, who must record it, and that notice has the effect of a civil judgment of that
magistrate’s court against the company or officer concerned.
(4) On application by the company or the officer, having received a notice
referred to in subsection (1), the magistrate’s court in question may, before the clerk of
that court has recorded the notice in terms of subsection (3), reduce the amount of the
penalty, or set aside the imposition of the penalty, and the court may, where the clerk has
already recorded the notice, exempt the company or officer wholly, or to the extent
determined by the court, from the effect of the notice.
(5) If a penalty imposed by the Registrar under this section is reduced or set
aside in terms of subsection (4), or the company or officer is so wholly or in part exempted
from the effect of the notice, by the magistrate’s court in question, costs must not be
awarded against the Registrar unless it be proved that he or she acted in bad faith or
without reasonable care or diligence.
(6) Nothing in this section must be taken to prejudice the operation of any
provision of this Act, imposing penalties on a company or its officers in respect of any
default.
Extension of time
185.Where in terms of this Act anything is to be performed within a specified
period of time, the Registrar may in any case, on application to him or her before or after
the expiry of that period, and on payment of the prescribed fee, or generally, and on his
or her own initiative, extend that period as he or she may deem fit subject to this Act, and
where any period has been so extended, any reference in section 186 to that period must
be construed as a reference to that period as so extended.

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Additional fees in respect of late submissions or late payment of annual duty
186.Without derogating from this Act, a company or an external company which
has failed within the time prescribed in the relevant provision to lodge any return or
other document or to pay any annual duty required under section 99(3), 181, 182, 183,
208(1), 219(3), 224(2) and 284, may lodge that return or other document or pay the
annual duty subject to the payment to the Registrar of the prescribed additional fee in
respect of each failure.
Part 2
Meetings of Company
Annual general meeting
187.(1) Every company must, at the times specified in this section, hold
general meetings to be known and described in the notices calling those meetings as
annual general meetings of that company.
(2) The meetings referred to in subsection (1) must be held –
(a) in the case of the first meeting, within a period of 18 months after the date
of the incorporation of the company concerned;
(b) thereafter within not more than nine months after the end of every ensuing
financial year of that company;
(c) within not more than 15 months after the date of the last preceding annual
meeting of that company.
(3) The annual general meeting of a company must deal with and dispose of
the matters provided for in this Act and may deal with and dispose of any further matters
which are provided for in the articles of the company and, subject to this Act, any matters
capable of being dealt with by any general meeting of the company.
(4) The Registrar may, on application to him or her before, or, for the purposes
of subsection (8), also after, the expiry of the period within which an annual general
meeting of a company must be held and on good cause shown, and on payment of the
prescribed fee, extend the period within which an annual general meeting of the company
concerned must be held by a period not exceeding three months, but, notwithstanding
any extension, the date for the holding of the first annual general meeting following the
meeting in respect of which the extension is granted, must be determined as if that meeting
had been held on the last day on which it should have been held if the extension had not
been granted.
(5) If for any reason an annual general meeting of a company is not or cannot
be held as provided in this section or any matter required by this Act to be dealt with and
disposed of at that meeting is not dealt with at the meeting, the Registrar may, on
application by the company or any member or the legal representative of that company
or member and on payment of the prescribed fee, call or direct the calling of a general
meeting of the company which must deemed to be an annual general meeting, and may
give ancillary or consequential directions which the Registrar may think expedient,
including directions modifying or supplementing, in relation to the calling, holding and
conduct of the meeting, the operation of the company’s articles, and directions providing
for one member or the legal representative of a member or any specified number of
members present in person or by proxy, to be deemed to constitute a meeting, and any
meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with that direction is, for all purposes
deemed to be an annual general meeting of the company duly called, held and conducted.

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(6) For the purpose of determining the date for the holding of the next succeeding
annual general meeting of a company, after a meeting held in pursuance of subsection
(5), subsection (4) does, with the necessary changes, apply.
(7) Any company which fails to comply with subsection (1) or with any direction
given by the Registrar under subsection (5), and every director or officer of the company
who knowingly is a party to the failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which
does not exceed N$800.
(8) A company which has failed to hold its annual general meeting within the
time or extended time contemplated in subsection (1) or (4), or as directed by the Registrar
under subsection (5), is further liable to pay to the Registrar the prescribed additional fee
for every day during which the default continues but not exceeding the prescribed
maximum fee.
(9) A company need not hold any particular annual general meeting if all
members entitled to attend that meeting agree in writing, and in that event a resolution in
writing dealing with and disposing of –
(a) the matters required by this Act to be dealt with and disposed of at an annual
general meeting of a company; and
(b) any other matters, if any, as may, in terms of subsection (2), be dealt with at
that meeting,
and signed by all members entitled to vote at that meeting, before the expiry of the
period within which that meeting is to be held, is deemed to be a resolution passed at an
annual general meeting of the company held in terms of this section on the date on which
the last signature to that resolution is affixed.
General meetings
188.(1) General meetings of a company may, subject to its articles, be held
from time to time.
(2) Any general meeting may, save in so far as is otherwise provided in the
articles of a company and without derogation from any other provisions of this Act, be
called by two or more members holding not less than one-tenth of its issued share capital
or, in the case of a company not having a share capital, by not less than five per cent in
number of the members of the company.
Calling of general meetings on requisition by members
189.(1) The directors of a company must, notwithstanding anything in its
articles, on the requisition of –
(a) 100 members of the company or of members holding at the date of the
lodging of the requisition not less than one-twentieth of such of the capital
of the company as at the date of the lodgment carries the right of voting at
general meetings of the company; or
(b) in the case of a company not having a share capital, 100 members of the
company or of members representing not less than one-twentieth of the
total voting rights of all the members having at that date a right to vote at
general meetings of the company,
within 14 days of the lodging of the requisition issue a notice to members convening a
general meeting of the company for a date not less than 21 and not more than 35 days
from the date of the notice.

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(2) The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by
the requisitionists and lodged 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 14 days from the date of the lodging of the
requisition issue a notice as required by subsection (1), the requisitionists or any of them
numbering more than 50 or representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of
all of them, may themselves on 21 days’ notice convene a meeting, stating the objects of
the meeting, but the meeting so convened must not be held after the expiry of three
months from that date.
(4) Any meeting convened under this section by the requisitionists must be
convened in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as that in which meetings are to be
convened by the directors of the company concerned.
(5) Any reasonable expense incurred by the requisitionists because of the failure
of the directors duly to convene a meeting must be repaid to the requisitionists by the
company, and any sum so repaid must be retained by the company out of any sums due
or to become due from the company by way of fees or other remuneration in respect of
their services to those directors who were knowingly party to the default.
(6) Any director or officer of a company who knowingly is a party to a failure
to convene a meeting as required by subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a
fine which does not exceed N$400.
Convening of general meetings by Registrar
190.If all the directors of a company have become incapacitated or have ceased
to be directors, the Registrar may, unless the articles of a company make other provision
in that behalf, on the application of any member of the company or the legal representative
of that member, and on payment of the prescribed fee, call or direct the calling of a
general meeting of the company and may give any ancillary or consequential directions
which the Registrar considers expedient, including directions modifying or supplementing,
in relation to the calling, holding and conduct of the meeting, the operation of the
company’s articles, and directions providing for one member or the legal representative
of a member or any specified number of members present in person or by proxy to be
deemed to constitute a meeting, and any meeting called, held and conducted in accordance
with any that direction, is, for all purposes, deemed to be a general meeting of the company
duly called, held and conducted.
General meetings on order of Court
191.If, for any reason, it is impracticable to call an annual general meeting or
other general meeting of a company in any manner in which meetings of that company
may be called, or to conduct that meeting in the manner prescribed by the articles of a
company or this Act, or if for any other reason the Court thinks fit to do so, it may, either
of its own motion or on the application of the Registrar or any director of the company or
of any member of the company or the legal representative of that member, order a meeting
of the company to be called, held and conducted in any manner which it may direct and
may in making an order give ancillary or consequential directions as it thinks expedient,
including directions providing for one member or the legal representative of a member
or any specified number of members present in person or by proxy to be deemed to
constitute a meeting, and any meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with
that order, is, for all purposes deemed to be an annual general meeting or a general
meeting, as the case may be, of the company duly called, held and conducted.

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Meetings of company with one member
192.In the case of a company having only one member, that member present in
person or by proxy is deemed to constitute a meeting.
Duty of company to circulate notice of resolutions and statements by members
193.(1) Subject to this section, a company must, on the requisition in writing
of the number of members referred to in subsection (2), and, unless the company otherwise
determines, at the expense of the requisitionists –
(a) give to members of the company entitled to receive notice of the next annual
general meeting, notice of any resolution which may properly be moved
and is intended to be moved at that meeting; and
(b) circulate to members entitled to have notice of any general meeting sent to
them, any statement of not more than one thousand words with respect to
the matter referred to in any proposed resolution or the business to be dealt
with at that meeting.
(2) The number of members necessary for a requisition under subsection (1)
must be –
(a) any number of members representing not less than one-twentieth of the
total voting rights of all the members having at the date of the requisition a
right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates; or
(b) not less than one hundred members.
(3) Notice of any resolution referred to in subsection (1)(a) must be given and
any statement referred to in subsection (1)(b) must be circulated to members of the
company entitled to have notice of the meeting sent to them, by serving a copy of the
resolution or statement on each member in any manner permitted for the service of notice
of the meeting, and notice of that resolution must be given to any other member of the
company by giving notice of the general effect of the resolution in any manner permitted
for giving that member notice of meetings of the company.
(4) A copy of a resolution or statement referred to in subsection (1) must be
served and notice of that resolution must be given in the same manner and, so far as
practicable, at the same time as the notice of the meeting in question, or if it is not
practicable to do so, as soon as practicable thereafter.
(5) A company is not bound under this section to give notice of any resolution
or to circulate any statement unless –
(a) there is lodged at the registered office of the company a copy of the
requisition signed by the requisitionists or two or more copies which between
them contain the signatures of all the requisitionists –
(i) in the case of a requisition requiring notice of a resolution, not less
than 30 days before the meeting; and
(ii) in the case of any other requisition, not less than 10 days before the
meeting; and
(b) there is lodged or tendered with the requisition a sum reasonably sufficient
to meet the company’s expenses in giving effect to the requisition.

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(6) If, after a copy of a requisition requiring notice of a resolution has been
lodged at the registered office of the company, an annual general meeting is called for a
date 30 days or less after the copy has been lodged, the copy, though not lodged within
the time required by this subsection, is deemed to have been properly lodged.
(7) The Court may absolve any company from the obligation to circulate any
resolution or statement in terms of this section if, on the application either of the company
or of any other interested person, the Court is satisfied that the rights thereby conferred
are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter.
(8) An order under subsection (7) may include an order for the payment by the
requisitionists of the costs or any portion of the costs incurred in connection with the
relevant application, whether or not they are parties to the application.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in the articles of a company, the business
which may be dealt with at an annual general meeting, must include any resolution of
which notice has been given in accordance with this section, and, for the purpose of this
subsection, notice is deemed to have been so given notwithstanding the accidental
omission to give that notice to one or more members.
(10) If there is a failure to comply with subsection (1), every director or officer
of the company who authorises or knowingly permits or is party to the failure, commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000.
Notice of meetings and resolutions
194.(1) Unless the articles of a company provide for a longer period of notice,
the annual general meeting or a general meeting called for the purpose of passing a
special resolution may be called by not less than 21 days’ notice in writing and any other
general meeting may be called by not less than 14 days’ notice in writing.
(2) Any provision in the articles of a company providing for a shorter period of
notice, not being of an adjourned meeting, is void.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a meeting of a company is deemed to have
been duly called –
(a) in the case of a meeting which is called on a shorter period of notice than is
specified in that subsection or provided for in the company’s articles, if it is
so agreed, before or at the meeting, by a majority in number of the members
having a right to attend and vote at the meeting who hold not less than 95
percent of the total voting rights of all the members of the company; or
(b) in the case of a meeting in respect of which notice as contemplated in
subsection (1) has not been given, if it is so agreed in writing, before or at
the meeting, by all the members of the company.
(4) No resolution of which special notice is required to be given in terms of this
Act has effect unless notice of the intention to move it has been given to the company not
less than 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved, and the company must give its
members notice of that resolution at the same time, and in the same manner as it gives
notice of the meeting, or, if that is not practicable, either by advertisement in a newspaper
having an appropriate circulation or in any other manner allowed by the articles of the
company, not less than 21 days before the meeting, but, if a meeting of the company is
called for a date 28 days or less after notice of the intention to move that resolution has
been given to the company, the notice, though not given within the time required by this
subsection, is deemed to have been properly given for the purposes of the meeting.

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(5) Any company which fails to give notice to its members as required by
subsection (4) commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Manner of giving notice
195.Unless the articles of a company otherwise provide, notice of a meeting of
a company must be served on every member of the company in the manner in which
notices are required to be served in terms of Table A or Table B of Schedule 1, whichever
is applicable to the company.
Representation of company or other body corporate at certain meetings
196.(1) A company or other body corporate may, by resolution of its directors
or other governing body, authorise any person to act as its representative at any meeting
of any company of which it is a member or at any meeting of any class of members of
that company.
(2) Subsection (1) does, with the necessary changes, apply with reference to
meetings of debenture holders and creditors of a company.
(3) A person authorised under subsection (1) is entitled to exercise on behalf of
the company or other body corporate which he or she represents, the same powers as that
company or body corporate could have exercised if it were an individual shareholder,
debenture holder or creditor of the company in relation to which that person has been
authorised to act.
Representation of members at meetings by proxies
197.(1) Any member of a company entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of
the company, or where the articles of a company limited by guarantee so provide, any
member of that company, is entitled to appoint another person, whether a member or not,
as proxy to attend, speak, and vote in that member’s stead at any meeting of the company,
but, unless the articles otherwise provide, a proxy is not entitled to vote except on a poll
and a member of a private company is not entitled to appoint more than one proxy.
(2) In every notice calling a meeting of a company having a share capital and
on the face of every proxy form issued at the company’s expense there must appear with
reasonable prominence a statement that a member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting
is entitled to appoint a proxy or, where it is allowed, one or more proxies, to attend and
speak and vote in that member’s stead, and that a proxy need not also be a member of the
company.
(3) If there is a failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (2) in
respect of any meeting, every director and every officer of the company who authorises,
knowingly permits or is party to the failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$400.
(4) Any provision contained in a company’s articles is 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 at its registered office or by any other person more than 48
hours before a meeting in order that the appointment may be effective.
(5) If, for the purposes of any meeting of a company, invitations to appoint as
proxy a person, or one of a number of persons, specified in the invitations are issued at
the company’s expense to some only of the members entitled to notice of the meeting
and to be represented by proxy, every director or officer of the company who authorises
or knowingly permits or is a party to that issue, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$400.

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(6) Subsection (5) does not apply in respect of the issue to a member of a
company at that member’s request in writing of a form of appointment naming a proxy
or of a list of persons willing to act as proxy, if the form or list is available on request in
writing to every member entitled to be represented at the meeting in question by proxy.
(7) If, for the purposes of any meeting of a company, invitations to appoint as
proxy a person, or one of a number of persons, specified in the invitations or the
instruments appointing a proxy, are issued at the company’s expense, that invitation or
instrument appointing a proxy must –
(a) contain adequate blank space immediately preceding the name or names of
the person or persons specified therein to enable a member to write in the
name and, if so desired, an alternative name of a proxy of that member’s
own choice;
(b) provide for the member to indicate whether that member’s proxy is to vote
in favour of or against any resolution or resolutions to be put at the meeting
or is to abstain from voting.
(8) The person present at a meeting of the company, whose name appears first
in the list of names which have not been deleted in any instrument appointing a proxy
becomes the validly appointed proxy of the member concerned.
(9) If a member does not indicate on the instrument appointing a proxy that
that member’s proxy is to vote in favour of or against any resolution or resolutions or to
abstain from voting, the proxy is entitled to vote as he or she thinks fit.
(10) If there is a failure to comply with any requirement of subsection (7), every
director or officer of the company who authorises, knowingly permits or is party to the
failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
(11) This section applies in relation to meetings of any class of members of a
company as it applies in relation to general meetings of the company.
Quorum for meetings
198.Unless the articles of a company provide for a greater number of members
entitled to vote to constitute a quorum at meetings of a company, the quorum for those
meetings is –
(a) in the case of a public company, three members entitled to vote, personally
present, or if a member is a body corporate, represented;
(b) in the case of a private company, not being a private company having one
member, two members entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy or, if
a member is a body corporate, represented; and
(c) in the case of a wholly-owned subsidiary company, the representative of
the holding company.
Chairperson of meetings
199.Unless the articles of a company otherwise provide, any meeting of the
company may elect any member to be the chairperson of the meeting.
Compulsory adjournment of meetings
200.(1) If at any meeting of a company any member of the company who is
present or represented and entitled to vote at the meeting demands an adjournment of the

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meeting on any ground stated by that member, the chairperson must put the demand to
the vote of the meeting, and if a majority of the members present or represented and
entitled to vote at the meeting or members present or represented and entitled to vote
representing either personally or by proxy more than half of the share capital of the
company represented at the meeting, vote in favour of an adjournment, the chairperson
must adjourn the meeting to a day not earlier than seven days and not later than 21 days
after the date of the meeting.
(2) When a meeting has been adjourned as contemplated in subsection (1) the
company must, on a date not later than three days after the adjournment, publish in a
newspaper circulating in Namibia a notice stating –
(a) the time, date and place to which the meeting has been adjourned;
(b) the matter before the meeting at the time when it was adjourned; and
(c) the ground for the adjournment.
(3) A private company may, instead of publishing the notice in a newspaper as
contemplated in subsection (2), send it by registered post to the members not later than
three days after the adjournment.
(4) Any person acting as chairperson of a meeting of a company who fails to
comply with any requirement of subsection (1) and any company which fails to comply
with any requirement of subsection (2) and any director or officer of a company who
knowingly is a party to the failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$400.
Part 3
Voting Rights and Voting
Voting rights of shareholders
201.(1) Subject to sections 202 and 203 and to the exceptions stated in section
204, every member of a company having a share capital has a right to vote at meetings of
that company in respect of each share held by that member.
(2) Every member of a company limited by guarantee has, unless the articles
otherwise provide, the right to vote at meetings of that company and has one vote.
Voting rights of preference shareholders
202.(1) Notwithstanding section 20(1), the articles of a company may provide
that preference shares do not confer the right to vote at meetings of the company
except –
(a) during any period determined as provided in subsection (2) during which
any dividend or any part of any dividend on those shares or any redemption
payment thereon remains in arrear and unpaid; or
(b) in regard to any resolution proposed which directly affects any of the rights
attached to those shares or the interests of the holders, including a resolution
for the winding-up of the company.
(2) The period referred to in subsection (1)(a) must be a period commencing on
a day specified in the articles of the company concerned, not being more than six months
after the due date of the dividend or redemption payment in question, or, where no due
date is specified, after the end of the financial year of the company in respect of which
that dividend accrued or that redemption payment became due.

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Determination of voting rights
203.(1) A member of a public company having a share capital is –
(a) if the share capital is divided into shares of par value, entitled to that
proportion of the total votes in the company which the aggregate amount of
the nominal value of the shares held by that member bears to the aggregate
amount of the nominal value of all the shares issued by the company;
(b) if the share capital is divided into shares of no par value, entitled to one vote
in respect of each share that member holds.
(2) The voting rights of a member of a private company must, subject to section
20(1), be determined by the articles of the company.
(3) When any shares of a company are converted into stock, or have been so
converted after 1 January 1953, this section does, with the necessary changes, apply as if
that stock consisted –
(a) in the case of shares of par value, of as many units of equivalent number
and value as the number and nominal value of the shares so converted; or
(b) in the case of shares of no par value, of as many units as the number of
shares so converted.
(4) Notwithstanding this section, the articles of a company may provide –
(a) for the chairperson of any meeting to have a casting vote; and
(b) for the votes to which any member is entitled above a stated number to
increase, not in direct proportion to the number of shares held, but in some
lower proportion specified in those articles and may in that event further
provide that no member is entitled to a number of votes exceeding the number
so specified or that the number of votes to which any member is entitled be
limited to a specified number.
Exceptions as regards voting rights
204.(1) Section 20(1) does not apply in respect of shares of a company which
on 1 January 1974 had already been issued without voting rights, or in respect of issued
shares, other than preference shares, in respect of which at that date there existed different
voting rights or in respect of shares subsequently issued in respect of which there existed
at that date a contractual right or obligation to issue those shares.
(2) If a company issues new shares, all the provisions of this Act as to voting
rights must, save as provided in subsection (1), apply in respect of those new shares, and,
for the purpose of determining the voting rights attached to those new shares as provided
in section 203 all its shares are deemed to have been issued with voting rights in accordance
with this Act.
Exercise of voting rights
205.(1) Any person present and entitled to vote as a member or as a proxy or
as a representative of a body corporate at any meeting of the company has, on a show of
hands, only one vote, irrespective of the number of shares that person holds or represents.
(2) On a poll at any meeting of a company, any member, including a body
corporate, or that member’s proxy is entitled to exercise all voting rights as determined
in accordance with this Act, but is not obliged to use all his or her votes or cast all the
votes he or she uses in the same way.

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Right to demand poll
206.(1) A provision contained in a company’s articles is void in so far as it
has the effect –
(a) of excluding the right to demand a poll at a general meeting on any question
other than the election of the chairperson of the meeting or the adjournment
of the meeting; or
(b) of rendering ineffective a demand for a poll made –
(i) by not less than five members having the right to vote at that a meeting;
(ii) by a member or members representing not less than one-tenth of the
total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the
meeting; or
(iii) by a member or members entitled to vote at the meeting and holding
in the aggregate not less than one-tenth of the issued share capital of
the company.
(2) The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting of a company is
deemed also to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll, and for the
purposes of subsection (1), a demand by a person as proxy for a member is the same as
a demand by the member.
Part 4
Special Resolutions
Requirements for special resolutions
207.(1) A resolution by a company is a special resolution if at a general
meeting of which not less than 21 days’ notice has been given specifying the intention to
propose the resolution as a special resolution, the terms and effect of the resolution and
the reasons for it and at which –
(a) members holding in the aggregate not less than one-fourth of the total votes
of all the members entitled to vote, are present in person or by proxy; or
(b) in the case of a company limited by guarantee, not less than one-fourth of
the members entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy,
the resolution has been passed, on a show of hands, by not less than three-fourths of the
number of members of the company entitled to vote on a show of hands at the meeting
who are present in person or by proxy or, where a poll has been demanded, by not less
than three-fourths of the total votes to which the members present in person or by proxy
are entitled.
(2) If less than one-fourth of the total votes of all the members entitled to attend
the meeting and to vote or, in the case of a company limited by guarantee, less than
one-fourth of the members of that company, are present or represented at a meeting
called for the purpose of passing a special resolution, the meeting stands adjourned to a
day not earlier than seven days and not later than 21 days after the date of the meeting
and section 200(2) applies in respect of that adjournment.
(3) At the adjourned meeting the members who are present in person or by
proxy and are entitled to vote may deal with the business for which the original meeting
was convened and a resolution passed by not less than three-fourths of those members is
deemed to be a special resolution even if less than one-fourth of the total votes are
represented at that adjourned meeting.

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(4) With the consent of a majority in number of the members of a company
having the right to attend and vote at a meeting and holding in the aggregate not less than
95 per cent of the total votes of all those members, a resolution may be proposed and
passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than 21 days’ notice has been
given.
(5) A copy of the consent referred to in subsection (4) must, on the prescribed
form, be lodged with the Registrar together with the copy of the special resolution.
(6) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a resolution may, with the written consent
of all the members of the company, be proposed and passed as a special resolution at a
meeting of which notice as contemplated in subsection (1) has not been given.
(7) The written consent referred to in subsection (6) must be in the prescribed
form and copy of that notice must be lodged with the Registrar together with a copy of
the special resolution.
(8) At any meeting at which a special resolution is submitted to be passed, a
declaration by the chairperson that the resolution is carried is, unless a poll is demanded,
sufficient evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes
recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
(9) If a poll is demanded regard must be had, in computing the majority on the
poll, to the number of votes cast for and against the resolution.
(10) For the purposes of this section notice of a meeting is, subject to this Act,
deemed to have been duly given and the meeting must be taken to be duly held when the
notice is given and the meeting is held in the manner provided by the articles of the
company concerned.
Registration of special resolutions
208.(1) Within one month from the passing of a special resolution a copy of
that resolution together with either a copy of the notice convening the meeting concerned
or a copy of the consent contemplated in section 207(4) or (6), as the case may be, must
be lodged with the Registrar, who must, subject to subsection (2), and on payment of the
prescribed fee, register that resolution.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to register any special resolution lodged under
subsection (1), except on an order of the Court, if that resolution appears to him or her to
be contrary to this Act or to the memorandum or articles of the company concerned.
(3) A copy of every special resolution for the time being in force must be
embodied in or annexed to every copy of the articles issued after the registration of the
resolution.
(4) The company concerned must transmit a copy of a special resolution to any
member at that member’s request, and on payment of an amount equal to the cost of
making that copy or a lesser amount as the company may determine.
(5) Any company which fails to comply with any requirement of subsection
(3) or (4) and every director or officer thereof who knowingly permits or is a party to the
failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$200.
(6) If a company makes default in lodging with the Registrar a copy of any
special resolution, and the notice or the consent, as required by subsection (1), the
company, and every director or officer who knowingly permits or is a party to the default,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day
during which the contravention continues.

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Alteration of memorandum or articles to pass special resolution
209.Where this Act permits any company to do anything by special resolution
subject to the condition that its memorandum or articles authorises it and its memorandum
or articles do not provide for that authority, but do not prohibit it, the company concerned
may convene a single meeting for the purpose of –
(a) passing a special resolution for the creation of that authority in the
memorandum or articles; and
(b) passing the intended special resolution.
Special resolution to lapse unless registered
210.Any special resolution of which a copy is not lodged with the Registrar and
registered within six months from the date of the passing of that resolution lapses and
becomes, unless the Court otherwise directs, void.
Dates on which resolutions take effect
211.(1) A special resolution does not take effect until it has been registered
by the Registrar under section 208.
(2) Any other resolution passed by a meeting of a company or of the holders of
any class of shares of a company has effect as from the date on which it is passed.
Part 5
Minutes, Minute Books and Reports of Meetings
Keeping of minutes of meetings
212.(1) Every company must, within one month after the date on which a
meeting was held, cause minutes of the proceedings at any meeting of the company to be
entered, in the official language, in one or more minute books kept for the purpose.
(2) The minute book referred to in subsection (1) must be kept at the registered
office of the company or at the office where that minute book is made up.
(3) For the purpose of this section loose leaves of paper must not be regarded
as constituting a minute book unless they are bound together permanently, without means
provided for the withdrawal or insertion of leaves and the pages are consecutively
numbered.
(4) The minutes of any meeting purporting to be signed by the chairperson of
that meeting or by the chairperson of the next succeeding meeting are evidence of the
proceedings.
(5) Minutes kept under the repealed Act by an existing company in a language
other than the official language must be taken to be sufficient compliance with subsection
(1).
(6) Any company which fails to comply with any requirement of subsection
(1) or (2), and every director or officer who knowingly permits or is a party to the failure,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400 for every meeting
in respect of which the contravention takes place.

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Validity of proceedings
213.Where minutes have been made of the proceedings at any general meeting
of a company, in accordance with section 212, the meeting is deemed to have been duly
held and convened and all proceedings to have been duly had and all appointments of
directors, managers, liquidators, auditors and officers are, until the contrary is proved,
deemed to be valid.
Right of members to inspect minute books
214.(1) Any minute book of a company kept under section 212 must be open
to inspection during business hours by any member of the company, without charge, at
the registered office of the company or the office where it is made up, subject to any
restrictions which may be provided for in the articles or imposed by the company in
general meeting, but not less than two hours in each day must be allowed for inspection.
(2) Any member of a company is entitled to be furnished, within seven days
after having made a written request to the company, with a copy of the minutes of the
proceedings at any general meeting of the company, certified by the secretary or a director
of the company as correct, at a charge not exceeding an amount equal to the cost of
making the copy.
(3) If any inspection required under this section is refused or if any copy required
under this section is not furnished within the proper time –
(a) the Court may, on application made to it, order that the minutes in question
be made available for inspection or that the copy required be furnished
immediately or within any period which the Court may direct and may order
the costs of the application to be paid by any director or officer of the
company who is responsible for the default; and
(b) the company, and every director or officer of the company who knowingly
is a party to the default, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which
does not exceed N$400.
Publication of reports of meetings
215.(1) A report purporting to be a report of the proceedings at any meeting
of a company must not be circulated or advertised at the expense of the company unless
it contains a fair summary of all material questions and comments, relevant to any matter
before the meeting, which have been asked or made by members taking part in the
proceedings, but it is not necessary to include in that report any matter which can
reasonably be regarded as defamatory of any person or as detrimental to the interest of
the company.
(2) Any director or officer of a company who authorises or knowingly permits
or is a party to the circulation or advertising of a report contrary to subsection (1) commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000, and if in any prosecution
under this subsection the defence is raised that the matter omitted from a report was
immaterial or could reasonably be regarded as defamatory of some person or as detrimental
to the interests of the company, the burden of proving this lies on the person raising the
defence.

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CHAPTER 8
DIRECTORS
Part 1
Number and Appointment
Number of directors
216.(1) Every public company must have at least two directors and every
private company must have at least one director.
(2) Until directors are appointed, every subscriber to the memorandum of a
company is deemed, for all purposes, to be a director of the company.
Determination of number of directors and appointment of first directors
217.Subject to the articles of any company, the number of directors of the
company may be determined and the first directors may be appointed in writing by a
majority of the subscribers to its memorandum.
Appointment of directors to be voted on individually
218.(1) At a general meeting of a company a motion for the appointment of
two or more persons as directors of the company by a single resolution must not be
moved, unless a resolution that it must be so moved has first been agreed to by the
meeting without any vote being given against it.
(2) Subject to section 222, a resolution moved in contravention of this section
is void, whether or not its being so moved was objected to at the time, but if a resolution
so moved is passed, no provision for the automatic reappointment of a retiring director
in default of another appointment applies.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a motion for approving a person’s
appointment or for nominating a person for appointment must be treated as a motion for
that person’s appointment.
(4) This section does not apply to a resolution altering the company’s articles.
Consent to act as director or officer
219.(1) Any person who, before the issue of a certificate to commence
business, is appointed as a director or officer of a company having a share capital,
must –
(a) before that certificate is issued, sign and lodge with the company his or her
written consent to act as a director or an officer, on a duly completed
prescribed form containing the particulars prescribed; and
(b) in the case of a director, either in the memorandum of the company subscribe
for a number of shares not less than the number, if any, required to be held
by a director as qualification shares, or sign and lodge with the Registrar a
contract in the prescribed form in writing to subscribe for or otherwise acquire
those shares.
(2) For the purposes of this section “qualification shares” means the qualification
shares required to be held on appointment to the office of director or within a period
determined by reference to the time of appointment.

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(3) Any person who is appointed as a director or officer of a company at any
time after it has become entitled to commence business must, within 28 days after the
date of that appointment or within a further period which the Registrar may, on good
cause shown and on payment of the prescribed fee, allow, lodge with the company his or
her written consent to that appointment on the prescribed form referred to in subsection
(1)(a), duly completed and signed by him or her.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the reappointment of a retiring director.
(5) Failure to comply with subsection (1) or (3) does not affect the validity of
an appointment.
(6) This section does not apply in respect of any person deemed to be a director
under section 216(2).
(7) Any person appointed as a director or officer of a company in the
circumstances referred to in subsection (1) or (3), who fails to comply with those
subsections, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$20 for
every day during which the contravention continues.
(8) Any company which publishes, and every director or officer of the company
who knowingly is a party to the publication of the name of any person as a director of the
company when that person is not a director or has not validly been appointed as director
of the company, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$2 000.
Filling of vacancy where director is disqualified or removed
220.(1) If the articles of a company provide for the filling of casual vacancies
in respect of directors, any vacancy created by the disqualification of any person from
being a director of the company or by the removal of a director under this Act, may,
subject to those articles, and if in the case of a removal, the vacancy is not filled at the
meeting at which he or she is removed, be filled as a casual vacancy.
(2) A person appointed as a director under subsection (1) in the place of a director
removed or disqualified under this Act must be treated, for the purpose of determining
the time at which he or she or any other director is to retire, as if he or she had become
director on the day on which the person in whose place he or she is appointed was last
appointed a director.
Qualification shares of directors
221.(1) Without prejudice to the restrictions imposed by section 219, any
director of a company who is, by its articles, required to hold a specified number of
qualification shares, and who does not hold those qualification shares must vacate his or
her office if he or she does not obtain those qualification shares within two months, or
any shorter period which is provided in the articles of the company, from the date of his
or her appointment, and he or she is not capable of being reappointed until he or she has
obtained those qualification shares.
(2) For the purposes of articles of a company requiring a director to hold a
specified number of shares as qualification shares, the bearer of a share warrant must not
be regarded as the holder of the shares specified in the warrant.
(3) Any person who accepts an appointment or acts as a director of a company
contrary to subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.

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Validity of acts where appointment is defective
222.The acts of a director of a company are valid notwithstanding any defect
that may afterwards be discovered in his or her appointment or qualification.
Part 2
Register of Directors and Officers
Register of directors, officers and corporate secretaries
223.(1) Every company must in the official language, keep a register of
directors and officers of the company and secretaries which are bodies corporate and
cause to be entered in that register –
(a) in respect of every director or officer –
(i) his or her full forenames and surname and any former forenames and
surname, identity number or, if he or she has no such number, date of
birth, nationality if not a Namibian national, occupation, residential,
business and postal addresses and the date of his or her appointment;
and
(ii) the name and registration number of every other company of which
that director is a director;
(b) in respect of every officer or secretary which is a body corporate, its name,
its registration number, the address of its registered office and the date of its
appointment; and
(c) any changes occurring from time to time in the particulars referred to in
paragraphs (a) and (b) and the dates and nature of those changes.
(2) Every company must, in addition to the particulars referred to in subsection
(1), enter in the register concerned the name and date of appointment of the auditor of the
company and the date and particulars of any change of that name and date of appointment.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) “former forenames and surname” does
not include –
(a) in the case of a person adopted as a child, any forename and surname borne
by him or her before his or her adoption;
(b) any forename or surname previously borne by any person which was changed
or disused before he or she attained the age of 18 years or has been changed
or disused for a period of not less than 10 years; or
(c) in the case of a married or divorced person, any forename or surname borne
by him or her before his or her marriage.
(4) Section 117 in so far as it relates to the place where the register of members
of a company must be kept and notice to the Registrar and section 120 in so far as it
relates to the inspection of and copies of or extracts from that register, do, with the
necessary changes, apply to the register to be kept under this section.
(5) A register of directors and officers kept under the repealed Act by an existing
company in a language other than the official language is deemed to be sufficient
compliance with subsection (1).

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(6) Any company which fails to comply with subsection (1), (2) or (4), commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000 and an additional fine
which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Duties of directors and others and of company in respect of register
224.(1) Any person in respect of whom the particulars referred to in section
223 are in terms of that section to be entered in the register mentioned in that section,
must furnish those particulars in writing to the company concerned –
(a) in the case of a person appointed as a director or officer of the company,
within 28 days after the date of his or her appointment; and
(b) in the case of a change in those particulars, but excluding any change
contemplated in section 223(2) and a change by way of the vacation of
office by the person concerned, within 14 days after the date of the occurrence
of the change,
and the company must, on receipt of those particulars or any change, enter that information
in the register of the company.
(2) A company must, within 14 days after receipt of any particulars referred to
in section 223(1)(a)(i) and (b) or of notice of any change in the particulars referred to in
that section or after any director or officer or a secretary which is a body corporate has
vacated office, lodge a return with the Registrar in the prescribed form reflecting the
contents of the register after the particulars or the change or a statement that a vacation
of office has occurred, have been entered in the register, but, any entry of a vacation of
office previously advised to the Registrar, need not be reflected in that return.
(3) In respect of any of the matters referred to in section 219(1) the return
referred to in subsection (2) must contain a statement, signed by a director, a secretary
who is a body corporate or an officer of the company, that –
(a) the consent, referred to in section 219, of the director or officer in respect of
whom particulars are reflected in that return, has been obtained on a duly
completed and signed prescribed form; and
(b) any person appointed as director or officer of the company, is not disqualified
under section 225 or 226.
(4) Any written consent referred to in section 219 must be retained by the
company and the Registrar may by notice in writing require a company to transmit to
him or her within 14 days after the date of the receipt of that notice, a certified copy of
the consent of any director or officer of the company to act as such.
(5) Any person who or company or external company which fails to comply
with this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$20
for every day during which the contravention continues.
Part 3
Disqualifications of Directors
Disqualifications of directors
225.(1) Any of the following persons are disqualified from being appointed
or acting as a director of a company –
(a) a body corporate;

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(b) a minor or any other person under legal disability;
(c) any person who is the subject of any order under this Act or deemed to have
been issued under this Act disqualifying him or her from being a director;
(d) save under authority of the Court –
(i) an unrehabilitated insolvent;
(ii) any person removed from an office of trust on account of misconduct;
(iii) any person who has been convicted of insider trading or any other
fraud-on-the-market offence;
(iv) any person who has been convicted, whether in Namibia or elsewhere,
of theft, fraud, forgery or uttering a forged document, perjury, an
offence under any law for the prevention of corruption, or any offence
involving dishonesty or in connection with the promotion, formation
or management of a company, and has been sentenced to imprisonment
without the option of a fine or to a fine to the equivalent of or exceeding
N$1 000.
(2) Any person disqualified from being appointed or acting as a director of a
company and who purports to act as a director or directly or indirectly takes part in or is
concerned in the management of any company, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(3) Nothing in this section prevents a company from providing in its articles
for any further disqualifications for the appointment of or the retention of office by any
person as a director of that company.
Disqualification of directors, officers and others by Court
226.(1) The Court may make an order directing that, for any period which is
specified in the order, a person, director or officer must not, without the leave of the
Court, be a director of or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take
part in the management of any company when –
(a) that person, director or officer, has been convicted of an offence in connection
with the promotion, formation or management of a company;
(b) the Court has made an order for the winding-up of a company and the Master
has made a report under this Act stating that in his or her opinion a fraud has
been committed –
(i) by that person in connection with the promotion or formation of the
company; or
(ii) by any director or officer of the company in relation to the company
since its formation;
(c) in the course of the winding-up or judicial management of a company it
appears that that person –
(i) has been guilty of an offence referred to in section 430, whether or
not he or she has been convicted of that offence; or

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(ii) has otherwise while an officer of the company committed any fraud
in relation to the company or any breach of his or her duty to the
company;
(d) a declaration has been made in respect of any person under section 430(1);
(e) that director or officer has persistently failed to comply with this Act or the
repealed Act requiring any return, statement or other document to be lodged
with or delivered or sent to, or notice to be given to, the Registrar, or that
person has, where the company has failed to so comply, persistently failed
to take all reasonable steps to obtain compliance;
(f) that person has, while a director of a company, carried on the business of
the company recklessly or with the intent to defraud creditors or for any
fraudulent purpose or has been convicted of an offence in connection with
that manner of carrying on of business.
(2) An order under subsection (1) may be made –
(a) by the Court, on application by the Master, or, in the case of a company
being wound up or under judicial management, by the Prosecutor-General
in terms of section 407, or by the liquidator or the judicial manager or by
any person who is a creditor or is or has been a member of that company; or
(b) in the case of an order in the circumstances set out in subsection (1)(a) or
(f), also summarily by the Court convicting the person concerned.
(3) A person who makes an application under this section must give not less
than 10 days’ notice of his or her intention to apply for the order, to the person against
whom the order is sought and the person against whom the order is sought may attend
the hearing of the application and give evidence and call witnesses to give evidence on
his or her behalf.
(4) Where an order under subsection (1) has been made, the person to whom
the order relates must give not less than 10 days’ notice to the Master, the
Prosecutor-General, the liquidator or the person who was the judicial manager of the
company concerned, of any application he or she intends making for leave of the Court
referred to in subsection (1), and the Prosecutor-General, liquidator or judicial manager
must draw the attention of the Court to any matter which may appear to him or her to be
relevant, and may give evidence and call witnesses.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)(ii) the reference to an officer of a
company must be construed as including a reference to any person in accordance with
whose directions or instructions the directors of the company have been accustomed to
act.
(6) An order may be made under subsection (1)(b)(ii) whether or not criminal
proceedings have been instituted in respect of any matter on which the order is based.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (1)(e) it is sufficient proof that a person has
so persistently failed to comply with this Act or has so persistently failed to take all
reasonable steps to obtain compliance where the relevant company has so failed to comply,
if within a period of five years before the date on which application is made to the Court
for the relevant order –
(a) that person has been found guilty on a criminal charge in connection with
any defaults in respect of this Act;
(b) a civil penalty has been imposed on that person under section 184,

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whether or not on the same occasion, at least three times.
(8) Any person who contravenes any order made under subsection (1), commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for
a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Register of disqualification orders
227.(1) The Registrar must, at the Companies Registration Office, keep a
register of disqualification orders in which must be entered all disqualification orders
made after the commencement of this Act by the Court under section 226 and any variation
of, or leave granted by the Court with regard to, any order so entered.
(2) Sections 8 and 12 insofar as they relate to the inspection of documents in
the Companies Registration Office and the transmission of orders of the Court to the
Registrar and the Master do, with the necessary changes, apply to this section.
Removal of directors and procedures in that regard
228.(1) A company may, notwithstanding anything in its memorandum or
articles or in any agreement between it and any director, by resolution remove a director
before the expiry of his or her period of office.
(2) Subsection (1) must not be construed as authorising the removal of a director
of a private company who was holding office for life on 13 June 1949.
(3) Special notice must be lodged with the company of any proposed resolution
to remove a director under this section or to appoint any person in the place of a director
so removed at the meeting at which he or she is removed, and, on receipt of notice of the
proposed resolution, the company must, as soon as is reasonably possible, deliver a copy
of the notice to the director concerned who is, whether or not he or she is a member of
the company, entitled to be heard on the proposed resolution at the meeting.
(4) If notice is given of a proposed resolution to remove a director under this
section, and the director concerned makes representations not exceeding a reasonable
length in writing to the company and requests their notification to members of the
company, the company must, unless the representations are received by it too late for it
to do so –
(a) in any notice of the resolution given to members of the company, state that
representations have been made; and
(b) send a copy of the representations to every member of the company to whom
notice of the meeting is sent, whether that notice is sent before or after
receipt of the representations by the company.
(5) If a copy of representations referred to in subsection (4) is not sent as
contemplated in that subsection because it was received too late or because of the
company’s failure to do so, the director concerned may, without prejudice to his or her
right to be heard orally, require that the representations be read at the meeting.
(6) A copy of the representations must not be sent out and the representations
need not be read out at any meeting if, on the application of the company or of any other
person who claims to be aggrieved, the Court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this
section are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter.
(7) The Court may order the company’s costs or the costs of the person referred
to in subsection (6) to be paid in whole or in part by the director concerned, notwithstanding
that he or she is not a party to the application.

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(8) Nothing in this section is to be construed as depriving a person removed
from office of compensation or damages which may be payable to him or her in respect
of the termination of his or her appointment as director or of any appointment terminating
with that of director or as derogating from any power to remove a director which may
exist apart from this section.
Part 4
Restrictions on Directors, their Powers and Certain Acts
Restriction of power of directors to issue share capital
229.(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in its memorandum of articles,
the directors of a company have no power to allot or issue shares of the company without
the prior approval of the company in general meeting.
(2) The approval referred to in subsection (1) may be in the form of a general
authority to the directors, whether conditional or unconditional, to allot or issue any
shares in their discretion, or in the form of a specific authority in respect of any particular
allotment or issue of shares.
(3) If any approval is given in the form of a general authority to the directors, it
is valid only until the next annual general meeting of the company but it may be varied or
revoked by any general meeting of the company before the annual general meeting.
(4) Any director of a company who knowingly takes part in the allotment or
issue of any shares in contravention of subsection (1), is liable to compensate the company
for any loss, damages or costs which the company may have sustained or incurred thereby,
but proceedings to recover any such loss or those damages or costs must not be commenced
after the expiry of two years from the date of the allotment or issue.
Restriction on issue of shares and debentures to directors
230.(1) A provision in any memorandum or articles or in any resolution of a
company which authorises the directors to allot or issue any shares or debentures
convertible into shares of the company at the discretion of the directors, must not authorise
the allotment or issue of those shares or debentures to any director of the company or his
or her nominee, or to any body corporate which is or the directors of which are accustomed
to act in accordance with the directions or instructions of that director or nominee, or at
a general meeting of which that director or his or her nominee is entitled to exercise or
control the exercise of one-fifth or more of the voting power, or to any subsidiary of that
body corporate unless –
(a) the particular allotment or issue has before the allotment or issue been
specifically approved by the company in general meeting;
(b) those shares or debentures are allotted or issued under a contract underwriting
the shares or debentures;
(c) those shares or debentures are allotted or issued in proportion to existing
holdings, on the same terms and conditions as have been offered to all the
members or debenture holders of the company or to all the holders of the
shares or debentures of the class or classes being allotted or issued; or
(d) those shares or debentures are allotted or issued on the same terms and
conditions as have been offered to members of the public.
(2) Any director of a company who contravenes or permits the contravention
of this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000

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or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment, and is further liable to compensate the company for any loss, damages or
costs which the company may sustain or incur.
(3) Proceedings to recover any loss, damages or costs incurred under subsection
(2) must not be commenced after the expiry of two years from the date of the allotment
or issue.
Share option plans where director is interested
231.(1) An option or a right given directly or indirectly after 1 January 1974
to any director or future director of a company in terms of any scheme or plan, to subscribe
for any shares of that company or to take up any debentures convertible into shares of
that company on any basis other than that laid down in section 230(1)(c), is not valid
unless authorised in terms of a special resolution of that company.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the expression “future director” does
not include a person who becomes a director of the company after the lapse of six months
from the date on which the option or right is acquired by that person.
(3) An option or a right is not invalid in terms of this section if that director or
future director of the company holds salaried employment or office in the company and
is given that option or right in his or her capacity as an employee.
Directors not to deal in options in respect of listed shares and debentures
232.(1) A director of a company who purchases a right –
(a) to call for delivery at a specified price, within a specified time of a specified
number of shares or a specified amount of debentures which are listed by a
stock exchange;
(b) to make delivery at a specified price, within a specified time of a specified
number of shares or a specified amount of debentures which are listed as
contemplated in paragraph (a); or
(c) to call for delivery at a specified price within a specified time or to make
delivery at a specified price within a specified time of a specified number
of shares or a specified amount of debentures which are listed as
contemplated in paragraph (a),
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
(2) Nothing in this section is to be taken as penalising a person who buys a
right to subscribe for shares or debentures of a body corporate or buys debentures of a
body corporate that confer on the holder of the right a right to subscribe for, or to convert
the debentures, whole or in part, into, shares of that body corporate.
(3) In subsection (1) –
(a) “shares” and “debentures” in relation to a director of a company, mean shares
or debentures of that company or its subsidiary or holding company or a
subsidiary of its holding company;
(b) “director” includes a person in accordance with whose directions or
instructions the directors of a company are accustomed to act, and that person
is deemed to be a director of the company.

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Prohibition of tax free payments to directors
233.(1) A company must not pay to any of its directors, whether in an official
or a personal capacity as a director, any remuneration free of any taxation in respect of
his or her income, or otherwise calculated by reference to or varying with the amount of
that taxation, or with the rate of taxation on incomes, except under a contract which was
in force on 13 June 1949, and which provides expressly, and not merely by reference to
the articles of the company, for payment of the remuneration.
(2) Any provision contained in the articles of a company, or in any contract
other than the contract referred to in subsection (1), or in any resolution of a company or
of its directors, providing for the payment to a director by way of remuneration of any
amount to be determined in a manner prohibited by subsection (1), must be construed as
if it provided for the payment of that amount without reference to the manner of
determination of the amount.
Prohibition of loans to, or security in connection with transactions by, directors
and managers
234.(1) A company must not, directly or indirectly make a loan to –
(a) any director or manager of –
(i) the company;
(ii) its holding company; or
(iii) any other company which is a subsidiary of its holding company; or
(b) any other company or other body corporate controlled by one or more
directors or managers of the company or of its holding company or of any
company which is a subsidiary of its holding company,
or provide any security to any person in connection with an obligation of that director,
manager, company or other body corporate.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) –
(a) “loan” includes –
(i) a loan of money, shares, debentures or any other property; and
(ii) any credit extended by a company, where the debt concerned is not
payable or being paid in accordance with normal business practice in
respect of the payment of debts of the same kind; and
(b) one or more directors or managers of a company contemplated in subsection
(1)(b) are deemed to control another company or body corporate only if –
(i) that director or manager or his or her nominee is a member or that
directors or managers or their nominees are members of that other
company or body corporate and the composition of its board of
directors is controlled by that director, manager or nominee or those
directors, managers or nominees, and the composition is deemed to
be so controlled if the director or manager or his or her nominee or
the directors or managers or their nominees may, by the exercise of
some power and without the consent or concurrence of any other
person, appoint or remove the majority of the directors concerned,

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and that director, manager or nominee or those directors, managers
or nominees are deemed to have power to appoint a director where a
person cannot be appointed as a director without his or her or their
consent or concurrence; or
(ii) more than one-half of the equity share capital of that other company
or body corporate or, if that other body corporate is a close corporation,
more than 50 per cent of the interest in that corporation is held by
that director, manager or nominee or those directors, managers, or
nominees;
(c) “security” includes a guarantee.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2)(b) must not be construed as prohibiting a company
from making a loan to, or providing security to any person in connection with an obligation
of, its holding company or subsidiary or a subsidiary of that holding company.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply –
(a) in respect of –
(i) the making of a loan by a company to its own director or manager;
(ii) the provision of security by a company in connection with an
obligation of its own director or manager;
(iii) the making of a loan by a company to any other company or other
body corporate controlled by one or more of the directors or managers
of the first-mentioned company; or
(iv) the provision of security by a company in connection with an
obligation of any other company or other body corporate controlled
by one or more of the directors or managers of the first-mentioned
company,
with the prior consent of all the members of the company or in terms of a
special resolution relating to a specific transaction, but, in respect of any
loan made or security provided before the commencement of this Act, that
consent is deemed to have been given if the transaction concerned has
subsequently, whether before or after the commencement, been ratified by
all the members of the company;
(b) subject to subsection (5), in respect of anything done to provide any director
or manager with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by
him or her for the purposes of the company concerned or for the purpose of
enabling him or her properly to perform his or her duties as director or
manager of that company;
(c) in respect of anything done in good faith in the ordinary course of the business
of a company actually and regularly carrying on the business of the making
of loans or the provision of security;
(d) to the provision of money or making of loans by a company for the purposes
contemplated in section 44(2)(b) and (c);
(e) to the making of a loan or the provision of security with the approval of the
company in general meeting for housing for its director or manager; or
(f) in respect of –

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(i) the making of a loan by a company to a director or manager of its
subsidiary; or
(ii) the provision of security by a company to another person in connection
with an obligation of a director or manager of its subsidiary,
as long as that director or manager is not also a director or manager of that
company itself.
(5) A loan must not be made or security provided by virtue of subsection (4)(b),
except –
(a) with the prior approval of the company given at a general meeting at which
the amount of the loan or the extent of the security and the purposes of the
loan are disclosed; or
(b) that, if the approval contemplated in paragraph (a) is not given, as at or
before the next annual general meeting of the company, on condition that
the loan must be repaid or the liability under the security must be discharged,
within six months from the conclusion of that annual general meeting.
(6) Any director or officer of a company who authorises, permits or is a party
to the making of any loan or the provision of any security contrary to this section –
(a) is liable to indemnify the company and any other person who had no actual
knowledge of the contravention, against any loss directly resulting from the
invalidity of that loan or security; and
(b) commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000
or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both
the fine and imprisonment.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) “director or officer of a company”
includes, where the company is a subsidiary, any director or officer of its holding company.
Payments to directors for loss of office or in connection with arrangements and
take-over schemes
235.(1) A company must not make any payment or grant any benefit or
advantage to any director or past director of the company or of its subsidiary company or
holding company or of any subsidiary of its holding company –
(a) by way of compensation for loss of office or as consideration for or in
connection with his or her retirement from office;
(b) by way of compensation, consideration or for any other reason, for loss or
retention of office or otherwise, in connection with any scheme referred to
in section 319; or
(c) by way of compensation, consideration or other reason in connection with
any take-over scheme referred to in section 320,
unless full particulars with respect to the proposed payment benefit or advantage have
been disclosed to the members of the company and the making of the payment or the
grant of the benefit or advantage has been approved by special resolution of the company.
(2) Any payment made or benefit or advantage granted contrary to subsection
(1) is –

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(a) in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection, deemed to have
been received by the director or past director concerned in trust for the
company; and
(b) in the case of paragraph (c) of that subsection, deemed to have been received
by the director or past director concerned in trust for any persons who have
sold their shares as a result of the take-over offer concerned.
(3) If in connection with any take-over scheme the price to be paid to a director
or past director for any shares of the company held by that director is in excess of the
price offered to other holders of those shares in terms of the take-over scheme or any
benefit or advantage is granted to that director or past director, the excess or the money
value of the benefit or advantage, as the case may be, is for the purposes of this section,
deemed to have been a payment made contrary to subsection (1)(c).
(4) A director’s expenses of distributing any sum among persons entitled because
of subsection (2)(b) must be borne by him or her and must not be retained out of that
sum.
(5) Where in proceedings for the recovery of any payment, benefit or advantage
deemed to have been received in trust, it is shown that –
(a) the payment was made or the benefit or advantage was granted in pursuance
of any arrangement entered into as part of an agreement in respect of any
scheme or take-over scheme, or within one year before or two years after
that agreement or the take-over offer; and
(b) the company, or the transferee company under any scheme or the offeror in
respect of any take-over scheme was privy to that arrangement,
the payment, benefit or advantage is deemed, except in so far as the contrary is shown, to
be one to which this section applies.
(6) This section does not apply to any payment made or benefit or advantage
granted in good faith by way of damages for breach of contract or by way of a pension,
including any superannuation allowance, gratuity or similar payment in respect of past
services.
(7) Nothing in this section is to be taken to prejudice the operation of any rule
of law requiring disclosure to be made with respect to any payments, benefits or advantages
as are mentioned in this section or with respect to any other payments, benefits or
advantages made or granted or to be made or granted to the directors or past directors of
a company.
Disposal of undertaking or greater part of assets of company
236.(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in its memorandum or articles,
the directors of a company have no power, save with the approval of a general meeting
of the company, to dispose of –
(a) the whole or substantially the whole of the undertaking of the company; or
(b) the whole or the greater part of the assets of the company.
(2) A resolution of the company approving a disposal referred to in subsection
(1) has no effect unless it authorises or ratifies in terms the specific transaction.

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Part 5
Interests of and Dealings by Directors and Others in Shares of Company
Definitions for purposes of this Part
237.For the purposes of this Part –
“interest” includes, without derogating from the generality of the word, any option in
respect of, any right to subscribe for or any right in or to any shares or debentures;
“officer” in relation to a company, includes any employee who would be in possession of
any information consequent on his or her immediate relationship with the directors of
the company immediately before a public announcement is to be made under section
241;
“past director” means a person who has ceased to be a director of the company concerned
for a period not exceeding six months;
“person” means a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions any of the
directors of a company is accustomed to act;
“shares and debentures of the company” means the shares and debentures of the company
and of its subsidiary.
Register of interests of directors and others in shares and debentures of company
238.(1) Every public company having a share capital must keep a register of
the material interests of its directors, past directors, officers and persons in the shares
and debentures of the company and must, within seven days after receipt of any written
notice referred to in section 240, cause to be entered in respect of each director, past
director, officer or person –
(a) a description of and the number or amount of shares or debentures held by
each of them;
(b) the nature and extent of any material interest whatever, direct or indirect,
held by each of them, directly or indirectly, in respect of those shares or
debentures;
(c) in chronological order any change, including any contract for any change in
the holding of or in the interests of each of them in any shares or debentures,
specifying the consideration, if any, given or received or to be given or
received; and
(d) the date on which each entry in the register is made.
(2) Section 117 in so far as it relates to the place where the register of members
of a company must be kept and notice to the Registrar and section 120 in so far as it
relates to the inspection of and copies of or extracts from that register, do, with the
necessary changes, apply to the register of interests to be kept under this section.
(3) The Registrar may at any time by notice in writing require a company to
transmit to him or her, within 14 days after the date of that notice, particulars of the
entries made in the register for the period as may be specified in the notice.
(4) Any company which fails to comply with this section or with any requirement
of the Registrar under this section and every director and officer of that company who
knowingly is a party to that failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or
to both the fine and imprisonment.

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Directors to determine officers for purpose of register
239.(1) When the directors of a company have knowledge of any information
concerning a transaction or proposed transaction of the company or of the affairs of the
company, which, if it becomes publicly known, may be expected materially to affect the
price of the shares or debentures of the company and that information has not been
publicly announced, they must as soon as is reasonably possible, by resolution determine
which officers of the company, whose names have not already been entered in the register
under section 238, are to be taken to be possessed or to become possessed of that
information in the course of their respective duties and must cause the names of those
officers to be entered in that register.
(2) Every director of a company who fails to comply with the requirements of
subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000
or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Duty of directors and others as to register of interests
240.(1) There must be lodged with a company by –
(a) every director, past director, officer and person of the company within one
month after the date on which this section comes into operation;
(b) every director within one month after his or her appointment as a director
of the company;
(c) every person within one month after he or she becomes entitled to direct or
instruct any director of the company; and
(d) every officer who has been determined by the directors in terms of section
239,
a written notice, dated and signed by him or her or his or her authorised agent, containing
the particulars referred to in section 238(1)(a) and (b).
(2) Every director, past director, officer and person referred to in subsection (1)
must, within 14 days after the occurrence of any change referred to in section 238(1)(c),
lodge with the company, a written notice, dated and signed by him or her or his or her
authorised agent containing the particulars of the changes.
(3) The obligation imposed by subsection (2) on any officer ceases in respect
of any change occurring after the time of the public announcement referred to in section
241.
(4) Any director, past director, officer or person who contravenes this section
or who makes any statement in any notice under this section knowing it to be false or
recklessly makes any statement which is false, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Offence to deal in shares with inside information before public announcement
241.Every director, past director, officer or person who has knowledge of any
information concerning a transaction or proposed transaction of the company or of the
affairs of the company which, if it becomes publicly known, may be expected materially
to affect the price of the shares or debentures of the company and who deals in any way
to his or her advantage, directly or indirectly, in those shares or debentures while that
information has not been publicly announced on a stock exchange or in a newspaper or

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through the medium of the radio or television, or through other electronic media commits
an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for
a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Part 6
Interests of Directors and Officers in Contracts
Duty of director or officer to disclose interest in contracts
242.(1) A director of a company who is in any way, whether directly or
indirectly, materially interested in a contract or proposed contract referred to in subsection
(2), which has been or is to be entered into by the company or who so becomes interested
in that contract after it has been entered into, must declare his or her interest and full
particulars of his or her interest as provided in this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to any contract or proposed contract which is of
significance in relation to a company’s business and which is entered into or to be entered
into –
(a) in pursuance of a resolution taken or to be taken at a meeting of directors of
a company; or
(b) by a director or officer of the company who either alone or together with
others has been authorised by the directors of the company to enter into that
contract or any contract of a similar nature.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) a general notice in writing given to the
directors of a company by a director to the effect that he or she is a member of a specified
company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract which may after the
date of the notice and before the date of its expiry be made with that company or firm, is
deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest in relation to any contract or proposed
contract so made or to be made, if –
(a) the nature and extent of the interest of that director in that company or firm
is indicated in that notice; and
(b) at the time the question of confirming or entering into the contract in question
is first considered or at the time that director becomes interested in a contract
after it has been entered into, the extent of his or her interest in that company
or firm is not greater than is stated in the notice.
(4) A general notice under subsection (3) may from time to time be amended
and is not effective beyond the end of the financial year of the company but may from
time to time be renewed.
(5) Any director or officer of a company who fails to comply with this section
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
(6) Nothing in this section is to be taken to prejudice the operation of any rule
of law restricting directors of a company from having any interest in contracts with the
company.
Manner of and time for declaration of interest
243.(1) A declaration of interest by a director under section 242 is not effective
unless it is made at or before the meeting of directors at which the question of confirming
or entering into the contract is first taken into consideration and, if in writing, is read out

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to the meeting or each director present states in writing that he or she has read that
declaration.
(2) If for any reason it is not possible for a director to make the declaration
referred to in section 242 at or before a particular meeting of directors, he or she may
make it at the first meeting of directors held thereafter at which it is possible to do so and
must, in that event, state the reason why it was not possible to make it at the particular
meeting.
Written resolution where director is interested
244.Notwithstanding any provision in the articles of a company permitting the
taking of a resolution by way of a written resolution signed by directors, no resolution
which concerns contracts or proposed contracts referred to in section 242 is valid unless
that section and section 243 are complied with.
Disclosure by interested director or officer acting for company
245.(1) A director or officer referred to in section 242(2)(b) who is in any
way, whether directly or indirectly, materially interested in any proposed contract to be
entered into by him or her on behalf of the company, must, before entering into that
contract, declare his or her interest and the full particulars of the interest at a meeting of
directors as provided for by section 235, and must not enter into that contract unless and
until a resolution has been passed by the directors approving the transaction.
(2) Any officer referred to in subsection (1) who becomes materially interested
in any contract entered into by him or her on behalf of the company after it was entered
into, must as soon as is reasonably possible, declare his or her interest and the full
particulars of the interest by a written notice given to the directors.
(3) A notice referred to in subsection (2) may be delivered to the secretary of
the company, if the company has a secretary, and the secretary must as soon as possible
transmit it to the directors for whom it is intended.
(4) Nothing in this section is to be taken to prejudice the operation of any rule
of law restricting an officer of a company from having an interest in contracts with the
company.
(5) Any director or officer of a company who fails to comply with this section
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
When particulars of interest to be stated in notice of meeting
246.(1) If a director of a company is in any way, whether directly or indirectly,
materially interested in a contract or proposed contract which is placed before the company
at any meeting for confirmation or authorisation, the notice convening that meeting must
state the full particulars of the interest in that contract of the director concerned.
(2) A company which fails to comply with subsection (1) and any director who
is a party to that failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the
fine and imprisonment.
Minuting of declarations of interest
247.(1) Every declaration of interest made under section 242, 243 or 245(1)
must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of directors at which the declaration is

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made, and any declaration of interest by an officer under section 245(2) must be recorded
in the minutes of the first meeting of directors held after the date of that declaration.
(2) Where a declaration is made in writing, the company must, unless copies of
the minutes are circulated to the directors, cause the minute recording the declaration to
be read out at the first meeting of directors held after the meeting in the minutes of which
the declaration was recorded.
(3) Any company which fails to comply with this section, commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
Register of interests in contracts of directors and officers and inspection
248.(1) Every company must keep, at its registered office or at the office
where it is made up, a register of interests in contracts in the official language, and must
enter in that register, the particulars of any declarations of interest made under section
242, 243 or 245, including any amendments under section 242(4).
(2) Section 117 in so far as relates to the place where the register of members of
a company must be kept and section 120 in so far as it relates to the inspection of and
copies of or extracts from that register, do, with the necessary changes, apply to the
register to be kept under this section.
(3) A register of interests kept under the repealed Act by an existing company
in a language other than the official language is deemed to be sufficient compliance with
subsection (1).
Duty of auditor as to register of interests in contracts
249.The auditor of any company must satisfy himself or herself that the register
of interests in contracts has been kept as required by section 248 and that every declaration
of interest recorded in that register has been minuted as required by section 247.
Part 7
Proceedings at Meetings of Directors and Managers
Keeping of minutes of meetings of directors and managers
250.(1) The directors of a company must cause minutes, in the official
language, of all proceedings of meetings of directors or managers to be entered in one or
more books to be kept for that purpose at the registered office of the company or at the
office where those minutes are made up.
(2) Any resolution of directors or managers of a company in the form of a
written resolution signed by the directors or managers is deemed to be a minute of a
meeting and must be entered in the book or books provided for in subsection (1) and be
noted by the next succeeding meeting of directors or managers.
(3) For the purposes of this section loose leaves of paper must not be taken to
constitute a minute book unless they are bound together permanently without means
provided for the withdrawal or insertion of leaves, and the pages or leaves are
consecutively numbered.
(4) The minutes of any meeting of the directors or managers of a company
purporting to be signed by the chairperson of that meeting or by the chairperson of the
next succeeding meeting are sufficient evidence of the proceedings at that meeting.

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(5) Minutes of meetings of directors or managers kept under the repealed Act
by an existing company in a language other than the official language are deemed to be
sufficient compliance with subsection (1).
(6) A company which fails to comply with any requirement of subsection (1) or
(2) and any director, manager or officer of the company who knowingly is a party to the
failure, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$1 000 or to
be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed three months or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
Validity of proceedings at meetings of directors and managers
251.Where minutes of the proceedings at any meeting of directors or managers
of a company have been kept in accordance with section 250, the meeting is deemed to
have been duly held and convened and all proceedings had at that meeting to have been
duly had, and all appointments of directors, managers, officers or auditors of the company
are deemed to be valid, until the contrary is proved.
When resolution at adjourned meetings of directors and managers effective
252.Any resolution passed at an adjourned meeting of directors or managers of
a company must for all purposes be treated as having been passed on the date on which
it was in fact passed.
Attendance register of meetings of directors and managers
253.(1) Every director of a company present at any meeting of directors, and
every manager present at any meeting of managers, must at the meeting sign his or her
name under the date of the meeting in a book complying with section 250(3) to be kept
for that purpose.
(2) The book referred to in subsection (1) must be kept at the registered office
of the company or at the office where it is made up and must, during business hours, be
open to inspection by any member of the company without charge.
(3) Any company, director or manager who fails to comply with this section,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400 for every meeting
in respect of which the contravention takes place.
Duty of auditor as to minute books and attendance register
254.The auditor of a company must satisfy himself or herself that a minute book
or books and an attendance register are kept by the company in the form provided for by
sections 250 and 253.
Part 8
Indemnity and Relief of, and Offences by, Directors and Others
Exemption from or indemnity against liability of directors, officers or auditors
255.(1) Any provision, whether contained in the articles of a company or in
any contract with a company, and whether expressed or implied, which purports to exempt
any director or officer or the auditor of the company from any liability which by law
would otherwise attach to him or her in respect of any negligence, default, breach of
duty or breach of trust of which he or she may be guilty in relation to the company or to
indemnify him or her against that liability, is void.

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(2) Subsection (1) must not be construed as prohibiting a company from
indemnifying any director, officer or auditor in respect of any liability incurred by him
or her in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is
given in his or her favour or in which he or she is acquitted or in respect of any proceedings
which are abandoned or in connection with any application under section 256 in which
relief is granted to him or her by the Court.
Relief of directors and others by Court in certain cases
256.(1) If in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach
of trust against any director, officer or auditor of a company it appears to the Court that
the person concerned is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of
duty or breach of trust, but that he or she has acted honestly and reasonably, and that,
having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with his or
her appointment, he or she ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach
of duty or breach of trust, the Court may relieve him or her, either wholly or partly, from
his or her liability on terms which the Court considers appropriate.
(2) Any director, officer or auditor who has reason to believe that any claim
will be made against him or her in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or
breach of trust, may apply to the Court for relief, and the Court has, on that application,
the same powers to grant relief as are by subsection (1) conferred on it with reference to
proceedings referred to in that subsection.
False statements and evidence
257.(1) Any person who, in any statement, return, report, certificate, financial
statement or other document required by or for the purposes of this Act, makes a statement
which is false in any material particular, knowing it to be false, commits an offence and
is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which
does not exceed one year or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(2) Any person who, on examination on oath or affirmation in terms of this Act
or in any affidavit or deposition in or about any matter arising under this Act, intentionally
gives false evidence, commits an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties
prescribed by law for perjury.
Falsification of books and records
258.(1) Any director or officer of a company or any other person who conceals,
destroys, mutilates, falsifies or makes any false entry in or, with intent to defraud or
deceive, makes any erasure in any book, register, document, financial record or financial
statement of any company commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to
both the fine and imprisonment.
(2) It is a defence to any charge under subsection (1) of concealing, mutilating,
falsifying or making a false entry or erasure in any book, register, document, financial
record or financial statement to prove that the accused had no intention either to defraud
or to conceal any offence or any conduct which he or she believed might constitute an
offence or render any person liable to any penalty or civil obligation.
False statement by directors and others
259.(1) Every director or officer of a company or accountant employed by or
auditor of a company or any other person employed generally or engaged for any special
work or service by the company who makes, circulates or publishes or concurs in making,
circulating or publishing any certificate, written statement, report or financial statement

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in relation to any property or affairs of the company which is false in any material
particular, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000 or
to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
(2) In any prosecution under subsection (1) it is a defence to prove that the
person charged had, after reasonable investigation, reasonable grounds to believe and
did believe that the certificate, written statement, report or financial statement was true,
and that there was no omission to state any material fact necessary to make the statement
as drafted not misleading.
CHAPTER 9
REMEDIES OF MEMBERS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Part 1
Relief from Oppression
Remedy of member in case of oppressive or unreasonably prejudicial conduct
260.(1) Any member of a company who complains that any particular act or
omission of a company is unreasonably prejudicial, unjust or inequitable, or that the
affairs of the company are being conducted in a manner unreasonably prejudicial, unjust
or inequitable to him or her or to some part of the members of the company, may, subject
to subsection (2), make an application to the Court for an order under this section.
(2) Where the act complained of relates to –
(a) any alteration of the memorandum of the company under section 62;
(b) any variation of rights in respect of shares of a company under section 108;
(c) a conversion of a private company into a public company or of a public
company into a private company under section 24,
an application to the Court under subsection (1) must be made within 30 days after the
date of the passing of the relevant special resolution required in connection with the
particular act concerned.
(3) If on any application it appears to the Court that the particular act or omission
is unreasonably prejudicial, unjust or inequitable, or that the company’s affairs are being
conducted in a manner which is unreasonably prejudicial, unjust or inequitable and if the
Court considers it just and equitable, the Court may, with a view to bringing to an end the
matters complained of, make an appropriate order, whether for regulating the future
conduct of the company’s affairs or for the purchase of the shares of any members of the
company by other members or by the company.
(4) Where an order under this section makes any alteration or addition to the
memorandum or articles of a company –
(a) the alteration or addition has, subject to paragraph (b), effect as if it had
been duly made by special resolution of the company; and
(b) the company has, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no power,
save as otherwise provided in the order, to make any alteration in or addition
to its memorandum or articles which is inconsistent with the order, except
with the leave of the Court.

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(5) A copy of any order made under this section which alters or adds to or
grants leave to alter or add to the memorandum or articles of a company must, within
one month after its making and in the prescribed form, be lodged by the company with
the Registrar for registration.
(6) Any company which fails to comply with subsection (5) commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$20 for every day during which the
contravention continues.
Part 2
Inquiry into Membership and Ownership of Shares and Control of Company
Power of Registrar to request information concerning shares and members
261.(1) The Registrar may by notice in writing require a company or external
company to transmit to him or her within 14 days after the date of that notice particulars
of the transfer of any share or shares and a list of persons for the time being members of
the company and of all persons who ceased to be members as from a particular date.
(2) Any company or external company which fails to comply with any
requirement of the Registrar under subsection (1) and every director or officer of that
company who knowingly is a party to the failure, commits an offence and is liable to a
fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Appointment and powers of inspectors to investigate financial interest in and control
of company
262.(1) The Minister may –
(a) where it is reasonable to do so, appoint one or more inspectors to investigate
and report to him or her on the membership of any company and otherwise
with respect to that company for the purpose of determining the true persons
who are or have been financially interested in the success or failure of the
company or able to control or materially to influence the policy of the
company;
(b) on an application complying with section 265 in respect of an application
under that section, for an investigation with respect to particular shares or
debentures of a company, appoint an inspector to carry out that investigation.
(2) The Minister must, when appointing an inspector under this section, define
the scope of the investigation to be carried out, whether in respect of the matters to be
investigated or the period in respect of which the investigation is to be undertaken or
otherwise, and may provide for an investigation to be confined to particular shares or
debentures.
(3) An application under subsection (1)(b) must not be refused unless the
Minister is satisfied that the application is vexatious, and there must not be excluded
from the scope of the investigation by an inspector appointed in pursuance of that
application any matter which the applicant seeks to have included, except in so far as the
Minister determines that it would be unreasonable for that matter to be investigated.
(4) The powers of an inspector do, subject to the terms of his or her appointment,
extend to the investigation of any circumstances suggesting the existence of an
arrangement or understanding which, though not legally binding, is or was observed or
likely to be observed in practice and which is relevant to any matter to be investigated.

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(5) Sections 267 insofar as it relates to the investigation of a subsidiary or holding
company of the company under investigation, 268 insofar as it relates to the powers of
an inspector and 269 insofar as it relates to submission of reports to the Minister do, with
the necessary changes, apply with reference to any investigation under this section.
Power to require information as to interest in shares or debentures
263.(1) If it appears to the Minister that there is good reason to investigate
any interest in shares or debentures of a company, he or she may by written notice
require –
(a) any director or officer of the company; or
(b) any person whom the Minister has reason to believe –
(i) to have or to have had any interest in those shares or debentures; or
(ii) to be acting or to have acted in relation to those shares or debentures
as the trustee or agent or nominee of someone having any interest in
the shares,
to furnish the Minister in writing, within 21 days after the date of the notice, with any
information which he or she has or can reasonably be expected to obtain as to any present
or past interest in those shares or debentures and the name and address of the interested
person concerned and of any person who is acting or has acted on his or her behalf in
relation to those shares or debentures.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is deemed to have an interest in a
share or debenture of a company if he or she has any right as against any member of or
any holder of a debenture of the company in respect of dividends, interest or capital
received from the company by that member or holder, or if he or she has any right to
acquire or dispose of the share or debenture or any interest in the share or debenture or to
vote in respect of the share or debenture or is able materially to influence the exercise of
that voting right, or if his or her consent is necessary for the exercise of any of the rights
of a member or any other person having an interest in the share or debenture, or if a
member or any other person having an interest in the share or debenture can be required
or is accustomed to exercise his or her rights in accordance with his or her instructions,
or if he or she is a beneficiary, of whatever nature, in relation to that share or debenture.
(3) Any person who fails to give any information required of him or her under
this section and which he or she is able to give or can reasonably obtain, or who in giving
that information knowingly or recklessly makes any statement which is false in any
material particular, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8
000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine
and imprisonment.
Power to impose restrictions on shares or debentures
264.(1) Where in connection with an investigation under section 262 or 263
it appears to the Minister that there is difficulty in finding out the relevant facts about
any shares of a company, and that the difficulty is due wholly or mainly to the
unwillingness of the persons concerned or any of them to assist in the investigation, the
Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette and served by post on the company at
its registered office, declare that the shares are, as from the date of publication of the
notice in the Gazette, subject to the restrictions imposed by this section.
(2) The Minister may in like manner withdraw or amend the notice referred to
in subsection (1).

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(3) As long as any notice is in force –
(a) any transfer of the shares to which it relates or, in the case of unissued
shares, any transfer of the right to be issued or any issue of the share,
is void;
(b) voting rights are not exercisable in respect of those shares;
(c) further shares must not be issued in pursuance of any right attached
to those shares or in pursuance of any offer made to the holder of the
shares; and
(d) except in a winding-up, payment must not be made of any sums due
from the company in respect of those shares, whether in respect of
capital or otherwise.
(4) Where the Minister has by notice referred to in subsection (1) declared that
shares are subject to the restrictions imposed by subsection (3), or refuses to withdraw or
amend that notice, any person aggrieved by the notice may apply to the Court, and the
Court may direct that the shares cease to be subject to those restrictions or to any one or
more of them.
(5) Any notice of the Minister or order of the Court directing that shares must
cease to be subject to any of the restrictions referred to in subsection (3), which is expressed
to be made with a view to permitting a transfer of those shares, may continue the
restrictions referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that subsection, either in whole or in
part, in so far as they relate to any right acquired or offer made before the transfer.
(6) Any person who –
(a) exercises or purports to exercise any right to dispose of any shares which to
his or her knowledge are subject to the restrictions mentioned in subsection
(3) or of any right to be issued with those shares;
(b) votes in respect of the shares, referred to in paragraph (a) whether as holder
or proxy, or appoints a proxy to vote in respect of the shares; or
(c) being the holder of any shares, fails to give notice of their being subject to
restrictions to any person whom he or she does not know to be aware of that
fact, but does know to be entitled, apart from those restrictions, to vote in
respect of those shares, whether as holder or proxy,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment.
(7) Where shares of any company are issued in contravention of the restrictions
referred to in subsection (3), the company, and every director or officer who knowingly
takes part in the contravention, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$4 000.
(8) This section applies in relation to debentures as it applies in relation to
shares.

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Part 3
Investigation into Affairs of Company
Inspection of affairs of company on application of members
265.(1) The Minister may appoint one or more inspectors to investigate the
affairs of a company and to report to the Minister in any manner which he or she may
direct –
(a) in the case of a company having a share capital, on the application of not
less than 100 members or of members holding not less than one-twentieth
of the shares issued; or
(b) in the case of a company not having a share capital, on the application of
not less than one-tenth of the number of persons on the register of members.
(2) The application referred to in subsection (1) must be supported by any
evidence which the Minister may require showing that the applicants have good reason
for desiring an investigation, and the Minister may, before appointing an inspector on
that application, require the applicants to give security to his or her satisfaction in an
amount not exceeding N$5 000 or any lesser amount which the Minister may determine
towards the cost of the investigation.
(3) Before appointing an inspector under subsection (1), the Minister must,
unless he or she is of the opinion that to do so would defeat the objects of this section,
furnish in writing to the company concerned a statement setting out the substance of the
complaint made and afford it a reasonable opportunity to reply.
Investigation of affairs of company in other cases
266.(1) When a company by special resolution resolves or the Court by order
declares that the affairs of a company ought to be investigated, the Minister must appoint
one or more inspectors to investigate the affairs of that company and to report to the
Minister in any manner which he or she may direct.
(2) The Minister may appoint one or more inspectors to investigate the affairs
of a company and to report to the Minister in any manner which he or she may direct, if
it appears to the Minister that there are circumstances suggesting –
(a) that the business of the company is being conducted with intent to defraud
its creditors or the creditors of any other person or otherwise for a fraudulent
or an unlawful purpose or in a manner oppressive or unreasonably prejudicial
or unjust or inequitable to any part of its members or that it was formed for
any fraudulent or unlawful purpose;
(b) that persons concerned with its formation or the management of its affairs
have in that connection committed any fraud, delict or other misconduct
towards it or towards its members; or
(c) that its members have not been given all the information with respect to its
affairs they might reasonably expect.
(3) Section 265(3) in so far as it relates to the furnishing of a statement of
complaint by the Minister to a company does, with the necessary changes, apply in
respect of an investigation under this section.

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Power of inspector to conduct investigation into affairs of related companies
267.An inspector appointed to investigate the affairs of a company may, if he or
she considers it necessary for the purpose, with the approval of the Minister, also
investigate the affairs of any other company or other body corporate which is or has at
any relevant time been the first-mentioned company’s subsidiary or holding company or
a subsidiary of its holding company and must in that event report on the affairs of that
other company or other body corporate so far as the results of his or her investigation are
in his or her opinion relevant to the investigation of the affairs of the first-mentioned
company.
Production of documents and evidence on investigation
268.(1) Any director, officer or agent of a company or other body corporate
whose affairs are being investigated by an inspector under this Act, must at the request of
that inspector produce all books and documents of or relating to the company or other
body corporate, in his or her custody or under his or her control, and afford the inspector
any assistance within his or her power in connection with the investigation as the inspector
may require.
(2) An inspector may for the purpose of any investigation conducted by him or
her –
(a) summon any director, officer, employee, member or agent of the company
or other body corporate to appear before him or her at a time and place
specified in the summons, to be questioned or to produce any book or
document so specified;
(b) administer an oath to or accept an affirmation from any person appearing
before him or her in pursuance of a summons, and question that person and
require that person to produce any book or document;
(c) retain for examination any book or document produced to him or her in
pursuance of a summons for a period not exceeding two months or for any
further period or periods which the Registrar may on good cause shown,
permit.
(3) A summons for the attendance of any person before an inspector or for the
production of any book or document may be in any form which the inspector may
determine, must be signed by the inspector, and must be served in the same manner as a
subpoena in a criminal case issued by a magistrate’s court.
(4) Any person duly summoned to appear before an inspector who, without
lawful excuse or sufficient cause –
(a) fails to attend at the time and place specified in the summons or to remain in
attendance until excused by the inspector from further attendance; or
(b) refuses, on being required to do so by the inspector, to take an oath or to
affirm as a witness or refuses or fails to produce any book or document
which he or she has been required to produce or to answer fully and
satisfactorily to the best of his or her knowledge and belief all questions put
to him or her by the inspector concerning the affairs of the company or
other body corporate whose affairs are being investigated,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be
imprisoned for a period which does not exceed two years or to both the fine and
imprisonment, but, in relation to the questioning of that person, or the production of any
book or document, the law relating to privilege, as applicable to a witness subpoenaed to
give evidence or to produce any book or document before a court of law, applies.

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(5) If an inspector considers it necessary for the purposes of his or her
investigation that a person whom he or she has no power to examine on oath should be so
examined, the inspector may apply to the Court for an order calling on that person to
appear before it for examination and the Court may order that person to attend before it
to be examined on oath on any matter relevant to the investigation, and on that
examination –
(a) the inspector may take part in the proceedings either personally or may be
represented by a legal practitioner;
(b) the Court may put any relevant questions to the person examined;
(c) the person examined must answer all questions which the Court may put or
allow to be put to him or her.
(6) The Court may allow the person who attends an examination pursuant to
subsection (5) costs and any costs so allowed must be paid as part of the costs of the
investigation.
(7) In this section –
(a) any reference to a director, officer, employee, member or agent of a company
or other body corporate, includes a reference to a past director, officer,
employee, member or agent of that company or other body corporate;
(b) any reference to an agent of a company or other body corporate, includes a
reference to the bankers, legal practitioners and auditor of the company or
other body corporate.
(8) Any person examined under this section may at his or her own cost employ
a legal practitioner, who is at liberty to put to him or her any questions which the inspector
or the Court may deem just for the purpose of enabling him or her to explain or qualify
any answers given by him or her.
Report of inspector
269.(1) An inspector who may make interim reports to the Minister in regard
to any investigation conducted by him or her, must make those reports if the Minister so
directs, and must at the conclusion of the investigation make a final report to the Minister.
(2) Any report referred to in subsection (1) must be written or printed as the
Minister may direct.
(3) The Minister must direct the Registrar –
(a) to send a copy of any report made by an inspector to the registered office of
the company or other body corporate concerned;
(b) to furnish a copy of that report on request and on payment of any fee that
may be prescribed, to any person who is a member of the company or of
any other body corporate dealt with in the report or whose interests as a
creditor of the company or that other body corporate appear to the Minister
to be affected;
(c) where the inspector is appointed under section 265, to furnish a copy of the
report to the applicants concerned at their request; and
(d) where the inspector is appointed under section 266 in pursuance of an order
of the Court, to furnish a copy of the report to the Court,

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and may direct the Registrar to cause any report to be printed and published.
Proceedings on report of inspector
270.(1) If, in the case of any company or other body corporate liable to be
wound up under this Act, it appears to the Minister from any report that it is expedient to
do so because of any circumstance referred to in section 266(2)(a) or (b), the Minister
may, unless the company or other body corporate is already being wound up by the
Court, make an application to the Court for it to be so wound up, or an application for the
order referred to in section 260 or both an application for an order that it be wound up
and an application for the order referred to in that section, and the Court may make an
appropriate order.
(2) If, from any report, it appears to the Minister that proceedings ought, in the
public interest, to be brought by any company or other body corporate dealt with by the
report for the recovery of damages in respect of any fraud, delict or other misconduct in
connection with the promotion or formation of that company or other body corporate or
the management of its affairs, or for the recovery of any property of the company or
other body corporate which has been misapplied or wrongfully retained, the Minister
may bring proceedings for that purpose in the name of the company or other body
corporate.
(3) The Minister must indemnify the company or other body corporate against
any costs or expenses incurred by it in or in connection with any proceedings brought
under subsection (2).
Part 4
Matters Incidental to Investigations
Expenses of and incidental to investigation of affairs of company
271.(1) The Minister must in the first instance defray the expenses of and
incidental to an investigation under section 265 or 266, but the following persons are, to
the extent stated, liable to repay the Minister –
(a) any person convicted of an offence disclosed by the investigation or ordered
to pay damages or to restore any property in proceedings instituted under
section 270(2), is liable for an amount, if any, determined by the Court
when convicting that person or ordering the payment of damages or the
restoration of property;
(b) in any case where no proceedings are instituted in respect of any offence
and no order for the payment of damages or the restoration of property is
made –
(i) any body corporate whose affairs were the subject of the investigation;
and
(ii) in the case of an investigation under section 265, the applicants
concerned, are liable for any amount which the Minister may in each
case determine;
(c) any body corporate in whose name proceedings are instituted under section
270(2), is liable for the balance, if any, of any expenditure not recovered
under paragraph (a), but not for an amount exceeding the amount or value
of any property recovered in those proceedings.

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(2) The amount determined under subsection (1)(a) may be the full amount of
the expenditure in question or any lesser amount or proportion which the Court considers
just.
(3) Subsection (1)(b)(i) does not apply in any case where it appears from the
relevant report that there was no substance in the allegations which gave rise to the
investigation to which the report relates.
(4) Any amount for which a body corporate may be liable because of subsection
(1) constitutes a first charge on the amount or value of any property recovered in
proceedings referred to in subsection (1)(c).
(5) An inspector may, if he or she considers it proper, and must, if the Minister
so directs, include in his or her report on any investigation a recommendation as to the
amount, if any, which in his or her opinion should, under subsection (1)(b), be ordered to
be paid by any body corporate or the applicants referred to in that subsection.
(6) For the purposes of this section any costs or expenses incurred by the Minister
in or in connection with proceedings instituted by him or her under section 270(2),
including any amount which may become payable by him or her in terms of subsection
(3) of that section, must be regarded as part of the expenditure incurred by him or her in
respect of the investigation giving rise to the proceedings.
Saving in respect of legal practitioners and bankers
272.(1) Nothing in this Act is to be construed as requiring the disclosure to
the Minister or to an inspector –
(a) by a legal practitioner of any privileged communication made to him or her
in his or her capacity as such, except as respects the name and address of his
or her client; or
(b) by a banker of any information as to the affairs of any of his or her customers
except –
(i) a company or its nominee and any other body corporate whose affairs
are being investigated; and
(ii)any person having an interest in shares held in the name of the banker’s
nominee.
Report of inspectors to be evidence
273.A copy of the report of any inspector appointed under this Act is admissible
in any legal proceedings as evidence of the opinion of the inspector in relation to any
matter contained in the report.
Part 5
Proceedings on Behalf of Companies
Initiation of proceedings on behalf of company by member
274.(1) For the purposes of this section, section 275 and 276, “curator” means
a person who institutes or otherwise participates in legal proceedings on behalf of a
company.
(2) Where a company has suffered damages or loss or has been deprived of any
benefit as a result of any wrong, breach of trust or breach of faith committed by any

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director or officer of that company or by any past director or officer while a director or
officer of that company and the company has not instituted proceedings for the recovery
of the damages, loss or benefit, any member of the company may initiate proceedings on
behalf of the company against that director or officer or past director or officer in the
manner provided for by this section notwithstanding that the company has in any way
ratified or condoned that wrong, breach of trust or breach of faith or any act or omission
relating to the breach or wrong.
(3) The member referred to in subsection (2) must, before initiating any
proceedings under subsection (2), serve a written notice on the company calling on the
company to institute those proceedings within one month from the date of service of the
notice and stating that if the company fails to do so, an application to the Court under
subsection (4) will be made.
(4) If the company fails to institute proceedings within the period contemplated
in subsection (3), the member may make application to the Court for an order appointing
a curator for the company for the purpose of instituting and conducting proceedings on
behalf of the company against that director or officer or past director or officer.
(5) On receipt of an application made under subsection (4) the Court may, if it
is satisfied –
(a) that the company has not instituted the proceedings;
(b) that there are sufficient grounds for the proceedings; and
(c) that an investigation into the grounds and into the desirability of the
institution of those proceedings is justified,
appoint a provisional curator and direct him or her to conduct an investigation and to
report to the Court on the return day of the provisional order.
(6) The Court may on the return day discharge the provisional order referred to
in subsection (5) or confirm the appointment of the curator for the company and issue
directions as to the institution of proceedings in the name of the company and the conduct
of the proceedings on behalf of the company by the curator, which it considers necessary
and may order that any resolution ratifying or condoning the wrong, breach of trust or
breach of faith or any act or omission is of no force or effect.
Powers of curator
275.(1) A provisional curator appointed by the Court under section 274(5)
and a curator whose appointment is confirmed by the Court under section 274(6) has, in
addition to the powers expressly granted by the Court in connection with the investigation,
proceedings and enforcement of a judgment, the same powers as an inspector under
section 268, and that section does, subject to subsection (2), with the necessary changes,
apply to the provisional curator and to the curator and to the directors, officers, employees,
members and agents of the company concerned.
(2) If the disclosure of any information about the affairs of a company to a
provisional curator or a curator would, in the opinion of the company, be harmful to the
interests of the company, the Court may on an application for relief by that company, if
it is satisfied that the information is not relevant to the investigation, grant that relief.
Security for costs by applicant for appointment of curator
276.The Court may, if it appears that there is reason to believe that the applicant
in respect of an application under section 274(3) will be unable to pay the costs of the

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respondent company if successful in its opposition, require sufficient security to be given
for those costs and costs of the provisional curator before a provisional order is made.
CHAPTER 10
AUDITORS
Part 1
Appointment
First appointment of auditor of company
277.(1) When the memorandum and articles of a company to be incorporated
are lodged with the Registrar for registration, a written consent by a person to be appointed
as auditor of the company to be formed may be lodged simultaneously, and that auditor
is deemed to have been appointed as such by the company.
(2) If no appointment of an auditor of a company is made under subsection (1),
the directors of the company must appoint the first auditor of the company within 21
days after the date of incorporation of the company.
(3) The auditor of a company appointed under subsection (1) or (2) holds office
until the conclusion of the first annual general meeting of the company.
(4) If the directors of a company fail to appoint an auditor of the company as
provided in subsection (2), the Registrar may appoint the first auditor.
(5) If the directors of a company fail to appoint the first auditor of the company
as required by subsection (2), each of those directors commits an offence and is liable to
a fine which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Annual appointment of auditor
278.(1) A company must, at every annual general meeting, appoint an auditor
or auditors to hold office from the conclusion of that meeting until the conclusion of the
next annual general meeting of the company.
(2) An outgoing auditor is deemed to be reappointed at any annual general
meeting without any resolution being passed, unless –
(a) that auditor is not qualified for reappointment;
(b) a resolution has been passed under section 286; or
(c) that auditor has given the company and the Registrar notice in writing of
being unwilling to be reappointed at the next annual general meeting.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply where notice of an intended resolution to
appoint some person or persons in place of an outgoing auditor has been duly given
under section 287 but cannot be proceeded with because of the death, incapacity or
disqualification of that person or of all those persons.
Failure to appoint auditor
279.(1) If at an annual general meeting of a company no auditor is appointed
or reappointed, the directors must, within 30 days as from the date of the meeting, appoint
a person or persons to fill the vacancy, and if they fail to do so, the Registrar may at any
time do so.

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(2) The company must and any director may, if the directors fail to appoint an
auditor as provided in subsection (1), within seven days after the expiry of the period
mentioned in that subsection, lodge with the Registrar a notice in the prescribed form to
that effect.
(3) Any company which fails, and any director or officer of that company who
knowingly fails, to comply with subsection (2), commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.
Minister may appoint joint auditor
280.The Minister may at any time, in the case of a company having a share
capital, on the application of 100 members or of members holding not less than
one-twentieth of the issued share capital, and, in the case of a company not having a
share capital, on the application of not less than one-tenth of the members, appoint, at the
expense of the company, for any period and at a remuneration which the Registrar may
determine, an auditor to act jointly with any other auditor of the company.
Filling of casual vacancies
281.Subject to section 288, a casual vacancy in the office of auditor of a
company –
(a) must, if that auditor is the only incumbent, be filled by the directors within
30 days, and section 279 in so far as it relates to the appointment of an
auditor by the Registrar does, with the necessary changes, apply in regard
to the filling of that vacancy and the duty of the company; or
(b) may, if there is more than one incumbent, be filled by the directors, but
while that vacancy continues, the surviving or continuing auditor must act
as auditor of the company.
Firm may be appointed auditor
282.(1) A firm of auditors may be appointed to hold the office of auditor of a
company.
(2) A change in the composition of the members of a firm of auditors while
holding office as auditor of a company does not constitute a casual vacancy in the office
of auditor but if less than one-half of the members of that firm remain after any one
change, it must be taken as a resignation of the auditor and a casual vacancy is constituted.
Disqualification for appointment as auditor
283.(1) No person qualifies for appointment as auditor of a company if that
person is –
(a) a director, officer or employee of the company;
(b) a director, officer or employee of any company performing secretarial work
for the company;
(c) a partner or employer or employee of a director or an officer of the company;
(d) a person who personally, or a partner or employee of that person who,
habitually or regularly performs the duties of secretary or bookkeeper of
the company;

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(e) a body corporate;
(f) a person who at any time during the financial year was a director or officer
of the company; or
(g) not qualified to act as such under the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’
Act, 1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951).
(2) Any person who in terms of subsection (1) is disqualified for appointment
as the auditor of a company is likewise disqualified for appointment as the auditor of any
other body corporate which is a subsidiary or holding company of that company or is a
subsidiary of that holding company, or would be so disqualified if that body corporate
were a company.
(3) Subsection (1) must not be construed as prohibiting the appointment as
auditor of a private company, no shares of which are held by a public company, of a
person who personally, or the partner or employee of that person who, habitually or
regularly performs the duties of secretary or bookkeeper of that private company if that
person is registered under the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act, 1951, and all the
shareholders of that private company agree in writing to the appointment of that person
and the relevant circumstances are set out in the auditor’s report on the affairs and annual
financial statements of that private company.
(4) Any person who acts as the auditor of a company or other body corporate
while disqualified, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed
N$4 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed one year or to both the
fine and imprisonment.
(5) For the purposes of this section “secretarial work” does not include share
transfer secretarial work.
Consent by, and notice, entry and lodging of information pertaining to, auditor
284.(1) The written consent contemplated in section 277(1) must be given
by the person concerned on the prescribed form.
(2) Any other person who consents to being appointed as auditor of a company,
other than a retiring auditor contemplated in section 278(2), must give notice in the
prescribed form to the company concerned of that consent.
(3) Any auditor of a company must give notice on the prescribed form to the
company concerned of any change in his or her particulars which are in terms of section
223(2) to be entered in the register referred to in that section, and must give that notice
within 14 days after the occurrence of any change.
(4) A company must, after any entry has been made in the register referred to in
section 223 in respect of particulars pertaining to the auditor of the company, lodge with
the Registrar a return in the prescribed form, and the company must lodge that return
within 14 days after an auditor has vacated office or after receipt of a notice contemplated
in subsection (2) or (3), as the case may be.
(5) Any company which fails to lodge a return contemplated in subsection (4),
and any person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3), commits an offence and is
liable to a fine which does not exceed N$20 for every day during which the contravention
continues.

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Part 2
Removal and Resignation of Auditor
Removal of auditor appointed by directors or Registrar, and filling of vacancy
285.(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 287, a company may at a general
meeting by resolution remove any auditor appointed by the directors or the Registrar
under section 277 or 279 or by the directors under section 281 before the expiration of
the auditor’s term of office and at the same meeting appoint another person as auditor in
that auditor’s place.
(2) Where an auditor has reason to believe that in the conduct of the affairs of
the company a material irregularity has taken place or is taking place which has caused
or is likely to cause financial loss to the company or to any of its members or creditors,
and has made a report in writing to the directors of the company, that auditor may not be
removed from office until section 26(3)(b) of the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act,
1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951), has been complied with.
Removal of auditor and appointment of new auditor
286.(1) Any company may, subject to subsection (2) and section 287, at an
annual general meeting by resolution passed by not less than three-fourths of the members
entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy, determine that any person then
holding office as its auditor must not be reappointed or that some other person must be
appointed as the auditor of the company.
(2) Where an auditor has reason to believe that in the conduct of the affairs of
the company a material irregularity has taken place or is taking place which has caused
or is likely to cause financial loss to the company or to any of its members or creditors,
and has made a report in writing to the directors of the company, that auditor may not be
removed from office until section 26(3)(b) of the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act,
1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951), has been complied with.
Special notice for removal of auditor
287.(1) Special notice to the company is required for a resolution to be
proposed at a general meeting under section 285 or at an annual general meeting under
section 286 and on receipt of notice of that proposed resolution the company must
immediately deliver a copy of the notice to the auditor concerned.
(2) Where a notice referred to in subsection (1) is given and the auditor concerned
makes in respect to the proposed resolution representations in writing to the company
and requests their notification to members of the company, the company must, unless the
representations are received by it too late for it to do so –
(a) in any notice of the proposed resolution given to members of the company,
state that representations have been made; and
(b) send a copy of the representations to every member of the company to whom
notice of the meeting is sent, whether the notice is sent before or after receipt
of the representations by the company.
(3) If a copy of representations contemplated in subsection (2) is not sent as
provided for in that subsection because of their being received too late or because of the
company’s default, the auditor may, without prejudice to the right to be heard orally,
require that the representations be read out at the meeting.

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(4) A copy of representations contemplated in subsection (2) must not be sent
out and the representations need not be read out at the meeting if, on the application
either of the company or of any person who claims to be aggrieved, the Court is satisfied
that the rights conferred by this section are being abused to secure needless publicity for
defamatory matter.
(5) The Court may, on an application under subsection (4), order the company’s
or the person’s costs to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that
the auditor is not a party to the application.
Resignation of auditor
288.(1) The auditor of a company may at any time during his or her period of
office resign from office provided the requirements of this section are complied with.
(2) An auditor intending to resign must deliver to the company and to the
Registrar a written notification in the prescribed form to the effect that he or she has no
reason to believe that in the conduct of the affairs of the company a material irregularity
has taken place or is taking place which has caused or is likely to cause financial loss to
the company or to any of its members or creditors, other than an irregularity which has
been reported to the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board in terms of the Public
Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act, 1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951), and it is not necessary that
that auditor has carried out, for the purposes of the notification, a special audit subsequent
to the date up to which the last annual financial statements on which he or she has already
reported, were made up.
(3) The directors of the company must, on receipt of the written notification
referred to in subsection (2), appoint an auditor to fill the vacancy and must lodge that
notification together with the return required under section 284 with the Registrar.
(4) The resignation of an auditor becomes effective on the receipt by the
Registrar of the written notification referred to in subsection (2).
(5) If the directors fail to appoint an auditor to fill the vacancy within three
months after the receipt of the written notification referred to in subsection (2), any
person who –
(a) at the expiry of that period of three months was a director of the company or
became a director of the company after that period has expired and before
the filling of the vacancy; and
(b) was aware of the vacancy but failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure
that it would be filled in accordance with subsection (3),
is together with the company jointly and severally liable for all debts incurred by the
company during the existence of the vacancy.
Part 3
Rights, Duties and Remuneration
Right of auditor to access of books and to be heard at general meetings
289.An auditor of a company –
(a) has the right of access at all times to the accounting records and all books
and documents of the company, and is entitled to require from the directors
or officers of the company any information and explanations which the
auditor may consider necessary for the performance of his or her duties as
auditor;

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(b) has, in the case of an auditor of a holding company, the right of access to all
current and former financial statements of any subsidiary of that holding
company and is entitled to require from the directors or officers of that
holding company or subsidiary all information and explanations in
connection with any statements and in connection with the accounting
records, books and documents of the subsidiary as the auditor may consider
necessary; and
(c) is entitled to attend any general meeting of the company and to receive all
notices of and other communications relating to any general meeting which
any member of the company is entitled to receive and to be heard at any
general meeting which the auditor attends on any part of the business of the
meeting which concerns him or her as auditor.
Duties of auditor
290.The auditor of a company must report to its members in any manner and on
any matters which are prescribed by this Act and carry out all other duties imposed on
him or her by this Act or any other law.
Remuneration of auditor
291.(1) Save as is otherwise provided in this Act, the remuneration of the
auditor of a company is determined by agreement with the company.
(2) All payments made or to be made by a company to its auditor, specifying
the remuneration for the audit, the remuneration for other specified services, the auditor’s
expenses and payments in respect of the audit and any other matter, must be included
under a separate heading in the income statement in respect of the accounting period
concerned.
CHAPTER 11
ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE
Part 1
Accounting Records
Duty of company to keep accounting records
292.(1) Every company must keep, in the official language, accounting records
which are necessary fairly to present the state of affairs and business of the company and
to explain the transactions and financial position of the trade or business of the company,
including –
(a) records showing the assets and liabilities of the company;
(b) a register of fixed assets showing the respective dates of acquisition and the
cost, depreciation, if any, the date of any revaluation and the revalued amount,
the respective dates of any disposals and the consideration received;
(c) records containing entries from day to day in sufficient detail of all cash
received and paid out and of the matters in respect of which receipts and
payments take place;
(d) where the trade or business of the company has involved dealings in goods,
records of all goods sold and purchased and, except in the case of ordinary
retail trade, records showing the goods and the buyers and the sellers in
sufficient detail to enable the nature of those goods and those buyers and
sellers to be identified; and

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(e) statements of the annual stocktaking.
(2) The accounting records referred to in subsection (1) may be kept by making
entries in bound books or by recording the matters in question in any other manner, and
where those records are not kept by making entries in bound books, adequate precautions
must be taken for guarding against falsification and facilitating its discovery.
(3) The accounting records must be kept at the registered office of the company
or at any other place which the directors consider proper and must, at all times, be open
to inspection by the directors and if those records are kept at a place outside Namibia,
there must be sent to and kept at a place in Namibia, and be at all times open to inspection
by the directors, financial statements and returns with respect to the business dealt with
in those records as will disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of that
business at intervals not exceeding 12 months, subject to section 293, and will enable the
company’s annual financial statements to be prepared in accordance with this Act.
(4) Any company which fails to comply with this section and every director or
officer who is a party to that failure or who fails to take all reasonable steps to secure
compliance by the company with this section, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(5) In any proceedings against any director or officer of a company in respect
of an offence consisting of a failure to take reasonable steps to secure compliance by a
company with this section, it is a defence to prove that the accused had reasonable grounds
for believing and did believe that a competent and reliable person was charged with the
duty of seeing that this section was complied with and was in a position to discharge that
duty and that the accused had no reason to believe that that person had failed in any way
to discharge that duty.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (1), the expression “fixed assets” does not
include any assets acquired or used solely for the purposes of carrying on mining
operations.
(7) Accounting records kept under the repealed Act by an existing company in
a language other than the official language are deemed to be sufficient compliance with
subsection (1).
Determination of financial year of company
293.(1) The financial year of a company is, subject to this section and any
other law, its annual accounting period, the commencing date of which and the date on
which it ends in the next succeeding calendar year, must be determined on the
incorporation of the company, but, the first financial year of a company is, where the
commencing date so determined –
(a) is a date more than three months after that incorporation, the period
commencing on the incorporation and ending on the date immediately
preceding the commencing date so determined; or
(b) is a date not more than three months after that incorporation, the period
commencing on the incorporation and ending on the date so determined as
the end of the financial year in the next calendar year.
(2) A company may at any time before the end of its current financial year on
payment of the prescribed fee and on lodgment with the Registrar of the prescribed
form –

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(a) change the end of that financial year to a date being not more than six months
earlier; or
(b) with the approval of the Registrar given on good cause shown, change the
end of that financial year to a date being not more than six months later,
and in that case every subsequent financial year of the company ends, subject to this
section, on the date as so changed.
(3) Any reference in this Act to the financial year of a company must be
construed as including a reference to any period which in terms of this section is stated to
be a financial year of that company.
Duty to make out annual financial statements and to lay them before annual general
meeting
294.(1) The directors of a company must, in respect of every financial year
of the company, cause to be made out in the official language annual financial statements
and must present them before the annual general meeting of the company required to be
held in terms of section 187 in respect of that financial year.
(2) The annual financial statements required to be made out under subsection
(1) consist of –
(a) a balance sheet, including any notes or documents annexed to it providing
information required by this Act;
(b) an income statement, including any similar financial statement where that
form is appropriate and including any notes or document annexed to it
providing information required by this Act;
(c) a cash flow statement;
(d) a directors’ report complying with the requirements of this Act; and
(e) an auditor’s report as required by section 309.
(3) The annual financial statements of a company must, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting practice, fairly present the state of affairs of the company
and its business as at the end of the financial year concerned and the profit or loss of the
company for that financial year and must for that purpose be in accordance with and
include at least the matters prescribed by Schedule 4, in so far as they are applicable, and
comply with any other requirements of this Act.
(4) Section 292(7) in so far as it relates to the keeping of existing accounting
records by existing companies does, with the necessary changes, apply to annual financial
statements.
(5) Any director or officer of a company who fails to take all reasonable steps
to comply or to secure compliance with this section or with any other requirements of
this Act as to matters to be stated in annual financial statements, commits an offence and
is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which
does not exceed six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(6) In any proceedings against any director or officer of a company under
subsection (5), the defence referred to in section 292(5) is available to that director or
officer.

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Offence to issue incomplete financial statements and circulars
295.If any financial statements or circulars of a company which are incomplete
in any material particular or otherwise do not comply with the requirements of this Act,
are issued, circulated or published, the company and every director or officer who is a
party to that issue, circulation or publication, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$1 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
three months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Part 2
Accounting by Holding Companies
Obligation to lay group statements before annual general meeting
296.(1) Where at the end of its financial year a company, which is not a wholly
owned subsidiary of another company incorporated in Namibia, including an external
company which is a subsidiary of a company incorporated in Namibia, has subsidiaries,
group annual financial statements must be made out and must be presented before the
annual general meeting of the company before which its own annual financial statements
are so presented under section 294(1).
(2) Subject to section 299, the group annual financial statements referred to in
subsection (1) must, together with the company’s own annual financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting practice, fairly present the state of affairs
and business of the company and all its subsidiaries at the end of the financial year
concerned and the profit or loss of the company and all its subsidiaries for that financial
year, as a whole so far as concerns the members of the company and must, for that
purpose, include at least the matters prescribed by Schedule 4, in so far as they are
applicable and comply with any other requirements of this Act.
(3) Any director or officer of a company who fails to take all reasonable steps
to comply or to secure compliance with this section or with any other requirements of
this Act as to matters to be stated in group annual financial statements, commits an
offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a
period which does not exceed six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(4) In any proceedings against any director or officer of a company under
subsection (3) the defence referred to in section 292(5) is available to that director or
officer.
Group annual financial statements
297.(1) Subject to section 298, group annual financial statements may consist
of consolidated annual financial statements in accordance with section 294(2)(a), (b)
and (c) and being –
(a) a consolidated balance sheet dealing with the state of affairs of the company
and all the subsidiaries to be dealt with in group annual financial statements;
(b) a consolidated income statement dealing with the profit or loss of the
company and those subsidiaries; and
(c) a consolidated cash flow statement of the company and those subsidiaries.
(2) Where consolidated annual financial statements under subsection (1) are
not made out, group annual financial statements may consist of –
(a) more than one set of consolidated annual financial statements, that is to say,
one set dealing with the company and one group of subsidiaries and one or
more sets dealing with other groups of subsidiaries;

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(b) separate annual financial statements dealing with each of the subsidiaries;
(c) statements annexed to the company’s own annual financial statements
expanding the information therein contained about the subsidiaries; or
(d) any combination of the matters in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c).
(3) Group annual financial statements may be wholly or partly incorporated in
the company’s own annual financial statements.
Where annual financial statements are to be consolidated
298.Consolidated annual financial statements must be made out unless the
directors of the company are of the opinion that the required information about the state
of affairs, business and profit or loss of the company and its subsidiaries would be
presented more effectively and meaningfully in the manner contemplated in section 297(2).
Where group annual financial statements need not deal with subsidiary
299.(1) Group annual financial statements need not deal with a subsidiary if
the directors of the company are of the opinion that it is impracticable or would be of no
real value to members of the company, in view of the insignificant amounts involved, or
would entail expense or delay out of proportion to the value to members of the company
and, if the directors are of that opinion about each of the company’s subsidiaries, group
annual financial statements are not required.
(2) If the directors of a company are of the opinion that –
(a) if a subsidiary were to be dealt with in group annual financial statements,
the result would be misleading or harmful to the business of the company
or any of its subsidiaries; or
(b) the business of the company and that of a subsidiary are so different that
they cannot reasonably be treated as a single undertaking or are of that
opinion about each of the company’s subsidiaries,
group annual financial statements need not deal with that subsidiary, or, as the case may
be, no group annual financial statements is required, if the Registrar approves.
(3) A company must apply to the Registrar for approval under subsection (2)
on the prescribed form and the application must be accompanied by a report by the
auditor of the company on the opinion and decision of the directors.
(4) Any approval given under this section by the Registrar expires after two
years but may be renewed on application by the company.
(5) Any director or officer of a company who fails to comply with subsection
(3), commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.
Accounting periods of company and subsidiary to be the same
300.The directors of any subsidiary must, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Act or in its articles, cause annual financial statements as required by
section 294 to be made out so as to cover an accounting period or accounting periods
ending on the same date or dates as the period or periods covered by the annual financial
statements of its holding company or holding companies.

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Duty of auditor to report on decisions of directors on group annual financial
statements
301.In every case where the directors of a holding company have decided not to
make out consolidated annual financial statements under section 298, or not to deal with
any subsidiary in group annual financial statements under section 299(1), the auditor of
the holding company must report to the members of the company on that decision of the
directors.
Part 3
Disclosure of Certain Matters in Financial Statements and Further Requirements
Disclosure of loans to and security for benefit of directors and managers
302.(1) The annual financial statements of a company must state –
(a) the amount and particulars of every loan referred to in section 234(1) which
has during the relevant financial year been made by virtue of section
234(4)(a), (b) or (e), including every loan which has, during that financial
year, been repaid;
(b) the particulars of every security, together with details of the transaction to
which it relates, referred to in section 234(1), which has during the relevant
financial year been provided by virtue of section 234(4)(a), (b) or (e),
including every security which has, during that financial year, been cancelled;
(c) the balance outstanding of every loan described in paragraph (a), made at
any time before that financial year and outstanding at the end of it; and
(d) the particulars of every security, together with details of the transaction to
which it relates, described in paragraph (b), provided at any time before
that financial year and still in existence at the end of the year including, if
applicable, the balance outstanding on the transaction to which it relates.
(2) If a company which has made a loan or provided any security referred to in
subsection (1) is a subsidiary and its holding company is by this Act required to make out
group annual financial statements or otherwise to furnish particulars of that subsidiary,
there must be included in the statements the information provided for in subsection (1).
(3) Where a loan is a loan of shares, debentures or other property, or where any
security is provided in respect of a loan of shares, debentures or other property, the
requirements of this section may be complied with by stating the particulars in the
directors’ report or by way of a note to the annual financial statements.
(4) If this section is not complied with in respect of the annual financial
statements of a company, the auditor of the company must, in his or her report relating to
those annual financial statements, include a statement containing any information in
regard to the matter which he or she is reasonably able to furnish.
(5) Any director or manager or past director or manager of a company or of its
holding company or of any other subsidiary of that holding company must, at the written
request of the first-mentioned company or its auditor, in writing give that information,
including particulars relating to his or her control of a company or body corporate
contemplated in section 234(1)(b), as the company or its auditor may require for
compliance with this section.
(6) Any director or manager or past director or manager referred to in subsection
(5) who fails to comply with that request within one month from the date of the request,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000.

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Disclosure of loans made to and security provided for benefit of directors or managers
before their appointment
303.(1) The annual financial statements of a company must state –
(a) the amount and particulars of every loan which has at any time been made
by the company to any person before his or her appointment as director or
manager of the company, if –
(i) the loan was still in existence at the date of the appointment; and
(ii) the appointment was made at any time during the financial year
concerned; and
(b) the particulars of every security, together with details of the transaction to
which it relates, which has at any time been provided by the company for
the benefit of any person before his or her appointment as director or manager
of the company, if –
(i) the security was still in existence at the date of the appointment; and
(ii) the appointment was made at any time during the financial year
concerned.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) –
(a) “loan” includes –
(i) a loan of money, shares, debentures or any other property; and
(ii) any credit extended by a company where the debt concerned is not
payable or being paid in accordance with normal business practice in
respect of payment of debts of the same kind;
(b) “security” includes a guarantee.
(3) Section 302(2), (3) and (4) in so far as it relates to the contents of annual
financial statements, the manner of showing loans and other securities in the statements
and the duty of the auditor to report does, with the necessary changes, apply with reference
to loans and securities contemplated in this section.
(4) This section does not apply in respect of a loan made or security provided
in good faith in the ordinary course of the business of a company actually and regularly
carrying on the business of the making of loans or the provision of security.
Disclosure of emoluments and pensions of directors
304.(1) For the purposes this section –
“compensation for loss of office” includes sums paid as consideration for or in connection
with a person’s retirement from office;
“contribution”, in relation to a pension scheme, means any payment made for the purposes
of the scheme by or in respect of persons rendering services in respect of which pensions
will or may become payable under the scheme, but does not include any payment in
respect of two or more persons if the amount paid in respect of each of them is not
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“emoluments”, in relation to a director, includes fees and percentages, salaries, any sums
paid by way of expenses allowance, any contribution paid under any pension scheme
and the estimated money value of any other material benefits received;
“pension” includes any superannuation allowance, superannuation gratuity or similar
payment; and
“pension scheme” means a scheme for the provision of pensions in respect of services as
a director or otherwise which is maintained in whole or in part by means of contributions.
(2) The annual financial statements of a company must, in so far as the
information necessary for the purpose is contained in the records of the company or is
otherwise available to it, contain particulars showing –
(a) the aggregate amount of the directors’ emoluments;
(b) the aggregate amount of directors’ or past directors’ pensions; and
(c) the aggregate amount of any compensation to directors or past directors in
respect of loss of office.
(3) The amount to be shown under subsection (2)(a) must –
(a) include any emoluments paid to or receivable by any person in respect of
that person’s services as a director of the company or any of its subsidiaries
or in respect of services rendered in any other capacity while director of the
company or of any subsidiary or otherwise in connection with the carrying
on of the affairs of the company or that subsidiary; and
(b) distinguish between emoluments in respect of services as a director, whether
of the company or of its subsidiary, and other emoluments.
(4) The amount to be shown under subsection (2)(b) must –
(a) include any pension paid or receivable in respect of any services of a director
or past director of the company referred to in subsection (3) whether to or
by him or her or on his or her nomination or, by virtue of dependence on or
other connection with him or her, to or by any other person but does not
include any pension paid or receivable under a pension scheme, if the
contributions payable under the scheme are substantially adequate for the
maintenance of the dependent person; and
(b) distinguish between pensions in respect of services as a director or otherwise,
whether of the company or its subsidiary, and other pensions.
(5) The amount to be shown under subsection (2)(c) must –
(a) include any sums paid to or receivable by a director or past director by way
of compensation for the loss of office as a director of the company or for
loss, while a director of the company or on or in connection with his or her
ceasing to be a director of the company, of any other office in connection
with the carrying on of the company’s affairs or of any office as director or
otherwise in connection with the management of the affairs of any subsidiary
of the company; and
(b) distinguish between compensation in respect of the office of director, whether
of the company or its subsidiary, and compensation in respect of other offices.

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(6) The amounts to be shown under each paragraph of subsection (2) must –
(a) include all relevant sums paid by or receivable from –
(i) the company;
(ii) the company’s subsidiaries; and
(iii) any other person,
except sums to be accounted for to the company or any of its subsidiaries,
or, by virtue of section 235 to past or present members of the company or
any of its subsidiaries or any class of those members; and
(b) distinguish, in the case of the amount to be shown under subsection (2)(c),
between the sums respectively paid by or receivable from the company, the
company’s subsidiaries and other persons.
(7) The amounts to be shown under this section for any financial year must be
the sums receivable in respect of that year, whenever paid, or, in the case of sums not
receivable in respect of a period, the sums paid during that year, so however, that where
any sums are not shown in the annual financial statements for the relevant financial year
on the ground that the person receiving them is liable to account for them as mentioned
in subsection (6)(a), but the liability is thereafter wholly or partly released or is not
enforced within a period of two years, those sums must, to the extent to which the liability
is released or not enforced, be shown in the first annual financial statements in which it
is practicable to show them and must be distinguished from the amounts to be shown
apart from this provision.
(8) For the purpose of enabling them to show separately the respective amounts
received under different headings as required by this section, the directors of a company
may apportion any payments received or receivable in any manner which they consider
appropriate.
(9) In this section any reference to a company’s subsidiary includes, for the
purpose of subsections (3) and (4), a reference to a company which was a subsidiary of
the first-mentioned company at the time the services contemplated in those subsections
were rendered, and, for the purposes of subsection (5), includes a reference to a company
which was a subsidiary immediately before the loss of office as director of the company
concerned.
(10) Every director or past director of a company must, at the written request of
the company or its auditor, give notice in writing to the company or the auditor, within
21 days from the date of that request, of matters relating to himself or herself which may
be necessary for the purposes of this section, and he or she commits an offence, if he or
she fails to comply with that request, and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2
000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed six months or to both the fine
and imprisonment.
(11) If, in respect of any annual financial statements the requirements of this
section are not complied with, the auditor of the company by whom the annual financial
statements are examined, must include in his or her report, so far as he or she is reasonably
able to do so, a statement giving the required particulars.
Approval and signing of financial statements
305.(1) The annual financial statements of a company other than the auditor’s
report, must be approved by its directors and signed on their behalf by two of the directors
or, if there is only one director, by that director, and group annual financial statements
must similarly be approved and signed by the directors of the holding company.

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(2) If a copy of any annual financial statements, or group annual financial
statements which have not been approved and signed as required by subsection (1), is
issued, circulated or published, every director or officer of the company concerned who
is a party to that issue, circulation or publication commits an offence and is liable to a
fine which does not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not
exceed six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Duty of company to send annual financial statements to members and Registrar
306.(1) A copy of the annual financial statements of a company and the group
annual financial statements, if any, must, not less than 21 days before the date of the
annual general meeting of the company, be sent to every member of the company and
every holder of debentures of the company, whether or not that member or holder of
debentures is entitled to receive notices of general meetings of the company, and to all
persons other than members or holders of debentures of the company who are entitled to
receive those notices.
(2) Where a member, holder of debentures or other person referred to in
subsection (1) has indicated in writing the manner in which he or she wishes to receive
the annual financial statements, the company is deemed to have sent the annual financial
statements to that member, holder of debentures or person if the company makes the
annual financial statements so available not less than 21 days before the date of the
annual general meeting.
(3) Subsection (1) must not be construed as requiring a copy of those statements
to be sent –
(a) in the case of a company not having a share capital, to any member or
holder of debentures of the company who is not entitled to receive notices
of general meetings of the company;
(b) to any member or holder of debentures of a company who is entitled to
receive those notices and whose address is not known to the company;
(c) to more than one of the joint holders of any shares or debentures of a company
none of whom is entitled to receive those notices;
(d) in the case of joint holders of any shares or debentures of whom some are
and others are not entitled to receive those notices, to any joint holder who
is not so entitled.
(4) Any copy of the annual financial statements not sent to members and
debenture holders and other persons referred to in subsection (1) at least 21 days before
the date of the relevant meeting is deemed to have been so sent if it is so agreed by all the
members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
(5) A public company must, on the day on which it sends copies to its members
as provided in subsection (1), send, on the prescribed form, to the Registrar a copy,
certified to be a true copy by a director and the secretary of the company of –
(a) the annual financial statements and group annual financial statements, if
any; and
(b) the annual financial statements of every private company which is a
subsidiary of that public company.
(6) The Registrar may, on application by any public company made on the
prescribed form, on good cause shown and on payment of the prescribed fee, exempt
that public company from the requirements of subsection (5)(b).

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(7) Any exemption made under subsection (6) by the Registrar expires after
two years but may be renewed on application by the company.
(8) If default is made in complying with subsection (1) or (5), the company
concerned, and every director who knowingly is a party to the default, commits an offence
and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period
which does not exceed six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Report of directors
307.(1) Except in the case of a company which is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of any other company incorporated in Namibia, every company must, as part of its annual
financial statements, present before the annual general meeting a report by the directors
with respect to the state of affairs, the business and the profit or loss of the company or of
the company and its subsidiaries, if any.
(2) The directors’ report must deal with every matter which is material for the
appreciation by the members of the company of the state of affairs, the business and the
profit or loss of the company or of the company and its subsidiaries, if any, and must for
that purpose be in accordance with and include at least the matters prescribed by Schedule
4, in so far as these are applicable, and comply with any other requirements of this Act.
(3) Any director of a company who fails to take all reasonable steps to ensure
compliance with this section, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not
exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed six months or to
both the fine and imprisonment.
Part 4
Duties of Auditor as to Annual Financial Statements
Duties of auditor as to annual financial statements and other matters
308.It is the duty of the auditor of a company –
(a) to examine the annual financial statements and group annual financial
statements to be presented before its annual general meeting;
(b) to satisfy himself or herself that proper accounting records, as required by
this Act have been kept by the company and that proper returns adequate
for the purposes of his or her audit have been received from branches not
visited by him or her;
(c) to satisfy himself or herself that the minute books and attendance registers
in respect of meetings of the company and of directors and managers have
been kept in proper form as required by this Act;
(d) to satisfy himself or herself that a register of interests in contracts as required
by section 248 has been kept and that the entries are in accord with the
minutes of directors’ meetings;
(e) to examine or satisfy himself or herself as to the existence of any securities
of the company;
(f) to obtain all the information and explanations which to the best of his or her
knowledge and belief are necessary for the purposes of carrying out his or
her duties;
(g) to satisfy himself or herself that the company’s annual financial statements
are in agreement with its accounting records and returns;

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(h) to examine group annual financial statements and satisfy himself or herself
that they comply with the requirements of this Act;
(i) to examine the accounting records of the company and carry out tests in
respect of those records and other auditing procedures which he or she
considers necessary in order to satisfy himself or herself that the annual
financial statements or group annual financial statements fairly present the
financial position of the company or of the company and its subsidiaries
and the results of its operations and those of its subsidiaries, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting practice applied on a basis consistent
with that of the preceding year;
(j) to satisfy himself or herself that statements made by the directors in their
reports do not conflict with a fair interpretation or distort the meaning of
the annual financial statements and accompanying notes;
(k) when he or she gets to know that the company is not carrying on business or
is not in operation and has no intention of resuming operations in the
foreseeable future, to report forthwith accordingly by certified post to the
Registrar;
(l) to comply with any other duty imposed on him or her by this Act; and
(m) to comply with any applicable requirements of the Public Accountants’ and
Auditors’ Act, 1951 (Act No. 51 of 1951).
Report of auditor
309.(1) When the auditor of a company has complied with the requirements
of, and has satisfied himself or herself as to the matters stated in, section 308, and has
carried out the audit free from any restrictions whatsoever, the auditor must make a
report to the members of the company to the effect that he or she has examined the
annual financial statements and group annual financial statements and that in his or her
opinion they fairly present the financial position of the company and its subsidiaries and
the results of its operations and that of its subsidiaries in the manner required by this Act.
(2) If the auditor is unable to make the report referred to in subsection (1) or to
make it without qualification, the auditor must include in his or her report a statement to
that effect and set out the facts or circumstances which prevent him or her from so making
his or her report or from making it without qualification.
(3) The auditor’s report under subsection (1) must, unless all the members
present agree to the contrary, be read out at the annual general meeting.
Part 5
Interim Accounting
Half-yearly interim reports
310.(1) Every public company having a share capital, other than a wholly
owned subsidiary, must, not later than three months after the expiry of the first period of
six months of its financial year, send to every member and holder of debentures of the
company an interim report fairly presenting the business and operations of the company,
or in the case of a holding company, of the company and its subsidiaries, during that
period of six months, and the results, but –
(a) the first interim report to be sent to members and holders of debentures of a
company after its incorporation must –

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(i) in any case where section 293(1)(a) applies and where the period of
the first financial year of the company exceeds nine months, be in
respect of a period of six months commencing on the date of
incorporation of the company; and
(ii) in any case where section 293(1)(b) applies, be in respect of a period
commencing on the date of incorporation of the company and ending
six months before the end of its first financial year;
(b) where a company has changed the end of its financial year under section
293(2)(b) an additional interim report must be made out for the period from
the beginning of the financial year so changed to the date of the end of the
financial year before it was so changed.
(2) Section 306(2) in so far as it relates to the manner in which annual financial
statements are to be send to members of a company does, with the necessary changes,
apply to half-yearly reports.
Provisional annual financial statements
311.(1) Every public company having a share capital, other than a wholly
owned subsidiary, which does not within three months after the end of its financial year
issue copies of its annual financial statements in terms of section 306(1) must, not later
than the date on which that period of three months expires, send to every member and
holder of debentures of the company a copy of the provisional annual financial statements
of the company fairly presenting the business and operations of the company or, in the
case of a holding company, of the company and its subsidiaries during that accounting
period.
(2) Section 306(2) in so far as it relates to the manner in which annual financial
statements are to be sent to members of a company does, with the necessary changes,
apply to provisional financial statements.
(3) If a private company has not issued its annual financial statements in terms
of section 306(1) within nine months after the end of its financial year, the Registrar
may, on application in the prescribed manner, by any member of that company, and on
good cause shown, require that company by written notice to lodge with him or her
provisional annual financial statements as referred to in subsection (1) within a period of
30 days from the date of that notice and that company must, unless it issues its annual
financial statements within that period, lodge provisional annual financial statements
with the Registrar within that period.
Form and contents of interim report and provisional annual financial statements
312.(1) For the purposes of sections 310 and 311 interim reports and
provisional annual financial statements must, respectively, be in accordance with and
include at least the matters prescribed by Schedule 4 in so far as they are applicable and
must comply with the other requirements of this Act.
(2) Provisional annual financial statements are not required to be audited.
(3) Every interim report and all provisional annual financial statements of a
company must be approved by the directors and signed on their behalf by two of the
directors, or, if there is only one director, by that director.

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Copies of interim report and provisional annual financial statements to be lodged
with Registrar
313.Every company which issues an interim report or provisional annual financial
statements must, within seven days from the date of issue and on the prescribed form,
lodge a copy of that interim report or provisional annual financial statements with the
Registrar.
Registrar may grant exemptions and extensions of time
314.(1) If the Registrar approves, no half-yearly interim reports are required
under section 310 if the directors of the company are of the opinion that those reports –
(a) would be misleading to the members of the company or harmful to the
business of the company; or
(b) would entail unnecessary expense or for any other reason would serve no
useful purpose.
(2) Section 299(3) in so far as it relates to applications for the Registrar’s
approval does, with the necessary changes, apply with reference to any application of
the company for the Registrar’s approval under subsection (1) and to the period of any
exemption.
(3) The Registrar may on application by any company made to him or her before
the expiry of the periods in which an interim report under section 310 or provisional
annual financial statements under section 311 are required to be issued, on good cause
shown and on payment of the prescribed fee, extend those periods respectively by period
which he or she considers appropriate.
Offences under sections 310 to 313, inclusive
315.Any company which fails to comply with any requirement of section 310,
311, 312 or 313 and any director of a company who fails to take all reasonable steps to
secure compliance with that requirement, commits an offence and is liable to a fine
which does not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed
six months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Part 6
Right of Members and Others to Copies of Annual Financial Statements and Interim
Reports
Right of members and others to copies of annual financial statements and interim
reports
316.(1) Any member or holder of debentures of a company is entitled to be
furnished, on demand without charge, with a copy of the last annual financial statements,
including group annual financial statements, and provisional annual financial statements
and of the last interim report of the company.
(2) A judgment creditor of a private company is, where it appears from the
return of the person whose duty it is to execute the judgment in question that insufficient
disposable property to satisfy that judgment was found, entitled to be furnished on demand
without charge with a copy of the last annual financial statement of the company.
(3) Any company which fails to comply with a demand under this section within
seven days after the making of the demand, and any director of the company who
knowingly is a party to the default, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$40 for every day during which the contravention continues.

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(4) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (3) to prove that the person
concerned had previously demanded a copy of the document to which the charge relates
and that that copy had been supplied.
CHAPTER 12
COMPROMISE, ARRANGEMENT AND AMALGAMATION
Compromise and arrangement between company, its members and creditors
317.(1) In this section –
“arrangement” includes a reorganisation of the share capital of the company by the
consolidation of shares of different classes or by the division of shares into shares of
different classes or by both these methods; and
“company” means any company liable to be wound up under this Act.
(2) Where any compromise or arrangement is proposed between a company
and its creditors or any class of them or between a company and its members or any class
of them, the Court may, on the application of the company or any creditor or member of
the company or, in the case of a company being wound up, of the liquidator, or if the
company is subject to a judicial management order, of the judicial manager, order a
meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, or of the members of the company or class
of members, as the case may be, to be summoned in any manner which the Court may
direct.
(3) If a compromise or arrangement is agreed to by –
(a) a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or
class of creditors; or
(b) a majority representing three-fourths of the votes exercisable by the members
or class of members,
present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting, that compromise or
arrangement is, if sanctioned by the Court, binding on all the creditors or the class of
creditors, or on the members or class of members and also on the company or on the
liquidator if the company is being wound up or on the judicial manager if the company is
subject to a judicial management order.
(4) A compromise or arrangement made under this section does not affect the
liability of any person who is a surety for the company.
(5) If the compromise or arrangement is in respect of a company being wound
up and provides for the discharge of the winding-up order or for the dissolution of the
company without winding up, the liquidator of the company must lodge with the Master
a report in terms of section 406(2) and a report as to whether or not any director or officer
or past director or officer of the company is or appears to be personally liable for damages
or compensation to the company or for any debts or liabilities of the company under this
Act, and the Master must report to the Court.
(6) The Court, in determining whether the compromise or arrangement should
be sanctioned or not, must have regard to the number of members or members of a class
present or represented at the meeting referred to in subsection (3) voting in favour of the
compromise or arrangement and to the report of the Master referred to in subsection (5).
(7) An order by the Court sanctioning a compromise or arrangement has no
effect until a certified copy of it has been lodged, on the prescribed form, with the Registrar
and registered by him or her.

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(8) A copy of the order of the Court referred to in subsection (7) must be annexed
to every copy of the memorandum of the company issued after the date of the order.
(9) If a company fails to comply with subsection (8), the company and every
director and officer of the company who is a party to the failure, commits an offence and
is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$200.
Information as to compromises and arrangements
318.(1) Where a meeting of creditors or any class of creditors or of members
or any class of members is summoned under section 317 for the purpose of agreeing to a
compromise or arrangement, there must –
(a) with every notice summoning the meeting which is sent to a creditor or
member, be sent also a statement –
(i) explaining the effect of the compromise or arrangement;
(ii) stating all relevant information material to the value of the shares
and debentures concerned in any arrangement; and
(iii) in particular stating any material interests of the directors of the
company, whether as directors or as members or as creditors of the
company or otherwise, and the effect of the compromise or
arrangement, in so far as it is different from the effect on the like
interests of other persons; and
(b) in every notice summoning the meeting which is given by advertisement,
be included either the statement contemplated in paragraph (a) or a
notification of the place at which and the manner in which creditors or
members entitled to attend the meeting may obtain copies of that statement.
(2) Where the compromise or arrangement affects the rights of debenture holders
of the company, the statement referred to in subsection (1) must give the same explanation
and statement with respect to the trustee of any deed for securing the issue of the debentures
as it is required to give with respect to the company’s directors.
(3) Where a notice given by advertisement includes a notification that copies
of the statement referred to in subsection (1) can be obtained by creditors or members
entitled to attend the meeting, everyone of those creditors or members must, on making
application in the manner indicated by the notice, be furnished by the company free of
charge with a copy of the statement.
(4) Where a company makes default in complying with any requirement of this
section, the company and every director or officer of the company who is a party to the
default, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000, and
for the purpose of this subsection any liquidator of the company and any trustee of a
deed for securing the issue of debentures of the company is deemed to be an officer of
the company.
(5) A person is not be liable under subsection (4) if he or she shows that the
default was due to the refusal of any other person, being a director or trustee for debenture
holders, to supply the necessary particulars as to his or her interests and that fact has
been stated in the statement.
(6) It is the duty of every director of a company and of every trustee for debenture
holders to give notice to the company of any matters relating to himself or herself which
may be necessary for the purposes of this section, and if he or she makes default in

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complying with that duty, he or she commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does
not exceed N$2 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not exceed six months
or to both the fine and imprisonment.
Provisions facilitating reconstruction or amalgamation
319.(1) If an application is made to the Court under section 317 for the
sanctioning of a compromise or arrangement proposed between a company and any
persons referred to in that section, and it is shown to the Court that the compromise or
arrangement has been proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for
the reconstruction of any company or companies or the amalgamation of any two or
more companies, and that under the scheme the whole or any part of the undertaking or
the property of any company concerned in the scheme (in this section referred to as the
“transferor company”) is to be transferred to another company (in this section referred to
as the “transferee company”) the Court may, either by the order sanctioning the
compromise or arrangement or by any subsequent order, make provision for all or any of
the following matters –
(a) the transfer to the transferee company of the whole or any part of the
undertaking and of the property or liabilities of any transferor company;
(b) the allotment or appropriation by the transferee company of any shares,
debentures or other like interests in that company which under the
compromise or arrangement are to be allotted or appropriated by that
company to or for any person;
(c) the continuation by or against the transferee company of any legal
proceedings pending by or against any transferor company;
(d) the dissolution, without winding-up, of any transferor company;
(e) the provision to be made for any persons who, within the time and in the
manner which the Court may direct, dissent from the compromise or
arrangement;
(f) any incidental, consequential and supplemental matters which are necessary
to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation shall be fully and
effectively carried out.
(2) An order for the dissolution, without winding-up, of any transferor company
must not be made under subsection (1) prior to the transfer in due form of all the property
and liabilities of that company.
(3) Where an order under this section provides for the transfer of property or
liabilities, that property must, by virtue of the order, vest in, subject to transfer in due
form, and those liabilities become the liabilities of the transferee company.
(4) If an order is made under this section, every company in relation to which
the order is made must, within 30 days after the making of the order and in the prescribed
form, cause a copy of the order to be lodged with the Registrar for registration, and if
default is made in complying with this subsection, the company commits an offence and
is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$400.
Take-over offers
320.(1) For the purposes of this section and sections 321 to 327, inclusive –
“offeree company”, in relation to a take-over scheme or a take-over offer, means the
company the shares of which are to be acquired under the scheme or offer;

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“offeror”, in relation to a take-over scheme or a take-over offer, means the person by
whom, or the company, external company or any other body corporate by which, any
take-over offer under a take-over scheme or the take-over offer, is made, and if that take-
over offer is made jointly by more than one offeror, then sections 321 to 327 in so far as
they relate to an offeror must, with the necessary changes, be construed to include joint
offerors;
“take-over offer” means an offer for the acquisition of shares under a take-over scheme;
“take-over scheme” means a scheme involving the making of an offer by the offeror for
acquiring shares of the offeree company which together with any shares of that company
already held by the offeror at the time of the making of the offer, will have the effect of –
(a) vesting the control of the offeree company directly or indirectly in the offeror;
or
(b) the offeror acquiring all the shares or all the shares of a particular class of
the offeree company,
but does not include any offer made in the course of or in connection with any individual
negotiation with any shareholder for the acquisition of those shares.
(2) A take-over offer must not be made unless –
(a) it is made in the same terms to all the shareholders of the shares or of a
particular class of shares of the offeree company;
(b) there is annexed to it a take-over statement by the offeror;
(c) a copy of the offer, together with its annexure, is, in the prescribed form,
lodged with the Registrar not later than the day on which it is intended to
issue the take-over offer,
but, if the consideration offered consists wholly or partly of cash and any of the
shareholders is resident outside Namibia, the offer may, with the approval of the Minister
granted after consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance, provide for payment
or settlement of that consideration to or in respect of the shareholders referred to in a
manner other than the manner of payment or settlement to or in respect of shareholders
resident in Namibia, but in such a manner that all shareholders receive equal treatment.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), no take-over offer is valid and capable of
acceptance after the expiry of four months from the date of its issue and a take-over offer
must not be withdrawn within that period unless –
(a) it is superseded by a new take-over offer by the offeror; or
(b) a take-over offer is made by some other offeror.
(4) If a take-over offer is declared by the offeror to be unconditional within the
period of four months referred to in subsection (3), it must not be withdrawn within 10
days after that declaration and it remains available for acceptance during those 10 days.
(5) If an offeror, while the take-over offer of that offeror is open and available
for acceptance, improves the terms of that take-over offer, it is deemed that all acceptances
of the offer previously made by any shareholder concerned have been made on those
improved terms, and that improved offer must not be construed as a new take-over offer.

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Contents of take-over statement by offeror
321.(1) Any take-over statement by the offeror must contain at least the
following information –
(a) if the offeror is a company, the name of the company, a list of its directors
and the name of its controlling company, if any, and if not acting as a
principal, the same information in respect of its principal;
(b) if the offeror is a person, his or her full names, occupation and address and
if not acting as a principal, the same information in respect of his or her
principal, and if his or her principal is a company, the particulars required
under paragraph (a);
(c) the full terms of the take-over offer;
(d) all material information relevant to the take-over offer and to the change of
control of the offeree company, if any;
(e) if the consideration offered is wholly or partly other than cash, a valuation
of that consideration by the offeror and the ground on which that valuation
is based;
(f) full disclosure of any payment or other benefit, from whatever source, made
or granted or promised to any director or shareholder of the offeree company
in connection with the take-over scheme.
(2) Any take-over statement must, on the face of it, bear the date of its issue to
the shareholders of the offeree company by the offeror.
Duty of directors of offeree company to furnish take-over statement
322.(1) The directors of any offeree company must, within 14 days after
delivery to the offeree company by the offeror of a take-over offer and take-over statement
by the offeror, which is intended to be issued or has been issued to shareholders of the
offeree company, or within any extended period agreed to by the offeror, deliver to the
offeror a take-over statement by the directors of the offeree company.
(2) If any director of the offeree company does not agree with the take-over
statement by the directors of the offeree company or any part of it, he or she must make
out a separate statement, signed by him or her, containing the full reasons for his or her
disagreement, which statement must be incorporated in the take-over statement by the
directors of the offeree company and form part of it.
(3) The offeror must, within seven days after receipt of the take-over statement
by the directors of the offeree company, send a copy of that statement –
(a) to the shareholders referred to in section 320(2)(a); and
(b) on the prescribed form to the Registrar.
Contents of take-over statement by directors of offeree company
323.Any take-over statement by the directors of the offeree company must contain
at least the following information –
(a) the opinion of the directors of the offeree company as to the fairness of the
take-over offer stating all relevant information material to the assessment
of the value of the shares of the offeree company;

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(b) whether or not there has been any material change in the financial position,
state of affairs or business of the offeree company since the end of the
financial year dealt with by its last annual financial statements;
(c) the number of shares of the offeree company held, directly or indirectly, by
each of the directors and the intention of each of the directors in relation to
the take-over offer and his or her own shareholding;
(d) whether any of the directors of the offeree company is a director or
shareholder of, or has any other interest in, the offeror or any company
controlled by the offeror or by the controlling company of the offeror and if
so, full disclosure of that interest; and
(e) particulars of any interest of any director of the offeree company in the
take-over scheme concerned and any payment, benefit or advantage or
proposed payment, benefit or advantage from whatever source in connection
with that take-over scheme, including those referred to in section 235(3).
Statement by the directors of offeree company in case of counter bid
324.Notwithstanding section 320(2)(b), a take-over offer may be made without
there being annexed to it a take-over statement by the directors of the offeree company,
if it is made while another take-over offer made by another offeror is open and available
for acceptance, but, the directors of the offeree company must, within 14 days of the
making of that offer, deliver to the offeror a take-over statement in terms of section 323
and the offeror must as soon as possible issue copies of that take-over statement to the
shareholders of the offeree company and lodge, in the prescribed form, a copy of that
statement with the Registrar.
Requirements for take-over offer may be waived
325.If all the shareholders of shares of an offeree company involved in a take-
over scheme consent in writing the requirements of this Act in regard to take-over offers
may be waived.
Liability and offences in regard to take-over offers
326.(1) Any person who or company which fails to comply with any
requirement of section 320(2) or (3), 321, 322, 323 or 324 commits an offence and is
liable to a fine which does not exceed N$4 000.
(2) Any director of the offeree company who conceals, or fails to take reasonable
steps to have included in the take-over statement by the directors of the offeree company,
any information required by section 323(d) and (e) commits an offence and is liable to a
fine which does not exceed N$4 000.
(3) Where a take-over statement by the offeror contains a statement which is
untrue, the offeror and every director and officer of an offeror which is a company, and
where a take-over statement by the directors of the offeree company contains a statement
which is untrue, every director of the offeree company, commits an offence and is liable
to a fine which does not exceed N$8 000 or to be imprisoned for a period which does not
exceed two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(4) The defences referred to in section 170(3) and (4) are, with the necessary
changes, available to any person charged under subsection (3).
(5) Where a take-over statement by the offeror or the take-over statement by
the directors of the offeree company contains a statement which is untrue, the offeror

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and every director and officer of an offeror which is a company, and every director of the
offeree company respectively, is liable to pay compensation to all persons who have
accepted the take-over offer concerned for the loss or damage they have sustained because
of that untrue statement, and section 168 is so far as it relates to the liability for untrue
statements in a prospectus does, with the necessary changes, apply to any liability provided
for in this subsection, and –
(a) the reference in section 168 to a prospectus must be construed as a reference
to a take-over statement by the offeror or the take-over statement by the
directors of the offeree company;
(b) the reference in section 168 to persons who have acquired, subscribed for
or purchased shares, must be construed as a reference to persons who have
accepted the take-over offer; and
(c) the reference in section 168 to the allotment or sale of shares, must be
construed as a reference to the acceptance of the take-over offer.
(6) The expression “statement which is untrue” or “untrue statement” in
subsections (3) and (5) bears, for the purposes of those subsections, the meaning ascribed
to the expression “untrue statement” in section 148.
Power to acquire shares of minority in take-over scheme
327.(1) If a take-over offer under a scheme or contract involving the transfer
of shares or any class of shares of a company to an offeror, has, within four months after
the making of the offer in that behalf by the offeror, been accepted by the holders of not
less than nine-tenths of the shares or any class of shares, other than shares already held at
the date on which the offer is issued by, or by a nominee for, the offeror or its subsidiary,
whose transfer is involved the offeror may, at any time within two months after that
acceptance, give notice in the prescribed manner to any shareholder who has not accepted
that offer, that the offeror desires to acquire that shareholder’s shares, and where that
notice is given, the offeror is, unless on an application made by that shareholder within
30 days from the date on which the notice was given the Court orders otherwise, entitled
and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which under the scheme or contract
the shares of the shareholders who have accepted the offer, are to be transferred to the
offeror.
(2) Where a notice has been given by the offeror under this section and the
Court, on an application made by a shareholder who has not accepted the offer, has not
ordered to the contrary, the offeror must, at the expiry of 30 days from the date on which
the notice was given, or, if an application to the Court by that shareholder is then pending,
after the application has been disposed of, send a copy of the notice to the offeree company
together with an instrument of transfer executed on behalf of that shareholder by any
person appointed by the offeror and pay or transfer to the offeree company the amount or
other consideration representing the price payable by the offeror for the shares which
because of this section he or she or it is entitled to acquire, and, subject to the payment of
the stamp duties ordinarily payable, the offeree company must register the offeror as the
holders of those shares, but an instrument of transfer is not required for any share for
which a share warrant is for the time being outstanding.
(3) Where, in pursuance of any scheme or contract contemplated in this section,
shares of an offeree company are transferred to a person or another company or its
nominee, and those shares together with any other shares of that offeree company held
by, or by a nominee for, the offeror or its subsidiary at the date of the transfer, comprise
or include nine-tenths of the shares in the first-mentioned company or if any class of
those shares, then –

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(a) the offeror must, within a month from the date of the transfer, give notice of
that fact in the prescribed manner to the holders of the remaining shares or
of the remaining shares of that class, as the case may be, who have not
accepted the offer under the scheme or contract: and
(b) that holder may, within three months from the giving of the notice to him or
her, by written notice, require the offeror to acquire the shares in question.
(4) Where a shareholder gives notice under subsection (3)(b), the offeror is
entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which under the scheme or
contract the shares of the shareholders who have accepted the offer were transferred to
him or her or it, or on other terms which may be agreed on or which the Court on the
application of either the offeror or the shareholders may order.
(5) Any sum received by the offeree company under this section must be paid
into a separate bank account with a banking institution registered under the Banking
Institutions Act, 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998), and those sums and any other consideration
so received must be held by the offeree company for the several persons entitled to the
shares in respect of which those sums or other consideration was received.
(6) In this section the expression “shareholder who has not accepted the offer”
includes any shareholder who has failed or refused to transfer his or her shares to the
offeror in accordance with the scheme or contract.
CHAPTER 13
EXTERNAL COMPANIES
Part 1
Registration
Registration of memorandum of external company
328.(1) Every external company must, within 21 days after the establishment
of a place of business in Namibia, lodge, in the prescribed manner, with the Registrar –
(a) a certified copy of the memorandum of the company, and if that
memorandum is not in the official language, a certified translation of it, in
the official language;
(b) the notice, in the prescribed form, referred to in section 178;
(c) the consent of and the name and address of the auditor of the company in
Namibia;
(d) a notice of the financial year of the company as contemplated in section
293;
(e) a list, in the prescribed form, containing the following particulars –
(i) the full forenames and surname and any former forenames and
surname, nationality, current country of residence, occupation,
residential, business and postal addresses and the date of appointment
of each director, and section 223(3) in so far as it describes what
constitutes former forenames and surnames does, with the necessary
changes, apply to a former forename and surname of a director;
(ii) the full forenames and surname, nationality, occupation, residential,
business and postal addresses, the date of appointment, of the local
manager and secretary, and in the case of any local manager or
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(iii) the name and address of the auditor of the company in Namibia;
(f) a notice, in the prescribed form, of the name and address of the person
authorised by the company to accept service on behalf of the company under
section 332; and
(g) proof of payment of the annual duty payable under section 183.
(2) The Registrar must, on payment of the prescribed fee, register the
memorandum of the company in the register kept under section 4, distinguishing the
registration from the registrations in respect of companies incorporated in Namibia, and
must issue a certificate of registration signed by him or her and under his or her seal to
the company.
(3) An external company in respect of which a notice has been published under
section 31(2)(b) of the Registration and Incorporation of Companies in South West Africa
Proclamation, 1978 (Proclamation 234 of 1978), in the Gazette, is deemed to be registered
under this section as an external company from the date mentioned in the notice.
(4) Section 341(5), (6) and (7) in so far as it provides for the legal effects of the
registration of an external company in Namibia does, with the necessary changes, apply
in respect of a company referred to in subsection (3).
(5) On the registration of the memorandum of an external company the Registrar
must allocate a registration number to the company concerned.
Effect of registration of memorandum of external company
329.(1) On the registration of the memorandum of an external company the
external company becomes a body corporate in Namibia subject to the applicable
provisions of this Act.
(2) A certificate of registration given by the Registrar in respect of any external
company is, on its mere production, in the absence of proof of fraud, conclusive evidence
that all the requirements of this Act in respect of registration and of matters precedent
and incidental have been complied with.
Power of external company to own immovable property in Namibia
330.(1) Save as may be expressly provided in any other law, an external
company of which the memorandum has been registered under section 328 has the same
power to own immovable property in Namibia as if it were a company incorporated in
Namibia.
(2) No external company is capable of acquiring the ownership of immovable
property in Namibia unless its memorandum has been or is deemed to be registered
under section 328.
Part 2
Administrative and Other Duties of External Companies
External company to have auditor
331.(1) Every external company must appoint and must, at all times, have an
auditor within the meaning of this Act and must, not later than 14 days after that
appointment or any change in the office of auditor and in the prescribed form, lodge with
the Registrar a notice stating the name and address of that auditor or the change in the
office.

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(2) The auditor of any external company may at any time resign as such and
section 280 which relates to the power of the Minister to appoint a joint auditor does,
with the necessary changes, apply with reference to the appointment of an auditor after a
resignation.
(3) If an external company fails to appoint an auditor as provided in subsection
(1), the Registrar must appoint the auditor.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply where the sole purpose of the external company
in establishing a place of business in Namibia is to establish a share registration office or
a share transfer office.
External company to have person authorised to accept service
332.(1) Notwithstanding section 78, every external company must appoint
and must, at all times, have one or more persons resident in Namibia authorised by the
company to accept on its behalf service of process and any notices required to be served
on the company.
(2) The authorised person referred to in subsection (1) is entitled to withdraw
from that authorisation after having given one month’s written notice of the withdrawal
to the company and must, at the same time, lodge, in the prescribed form, two copies of
the notice with the Registrar.
(3) Every external company must, within 21 days after receipt of the notice
referred to in subsection (2) or after the termination of an authorisation in any other
manner, lodge, in the prescribed form, with the Registrar a notice stating the alteration
and the name and address of the new authorised person appointed by the company.
Register of directors and managers and secretaries and power of Registrar to request
particulars
333.(1) Sections 219, 223 and 224 in so far as they relate to the giving of
written consent by a director or officer of a company, the keeping, by a company, of a
register of directors or officers and the duty of a director or officer to furnish a company
with his or her particulars respectively do, with the necessary changes, apply to a director,
local manager and local secretary of an external company, but –
(a) if a director is not resident in Namibia –
(i) the entries referred to in section 224(1) must be made in the register
not later than the end of the financial year of the company and the
return referred to in section 224(2) must be lodged with the Registrar
within 14 days after the date of those entries; and
(ii) the form of consent provided for under section 219 may be signed by
the director or his or her duly authorised agent on his or her behalf;
(b) section 219 in so for as it relates to the prescribed form does not apply
where the sole purpose of the company in establishing a place of business
in Namibia is to establish a share registration office or a share transfer office.
(2) Every external company must, within 21 days after the date of a written
request by the Registrar to that effect, lodge with the Registrar complete particulars of
the present residential, business and postal addresses of every director not resident in
Namibia, together with a complete list containing the names and registered offices of
companies incorporated in Namibia and other external companies of which that director
is also a director.