Companies Act 2016

Case Update: Resignation of Directors Does Not Require Acceptance or Consent by the Company

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I set out a case update on two recent High Court cases relating to the resignation of directors and on section 208 of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) on giving the written notice of resignation as a director.

In the first case of Wong Kok Meng, the Court confirmed that a director’s resignation need not be accepted by the company and there need not be a resolution accepting such a resignation.

In the second case of Tan Kei Vin, it also dealt with the issuance of a director’s notice of resignation. That written notice took effect immediately when delivered to the company’s registered office.

I explain more on the two cases below. Continue reading →

8 Observations on the Proposed Guidelines on Beneficial Ownership of Companies

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On 8 November 2019, the Companies Commission of Malaysia (or SSM, being its abbreviation in Malay) issued its Consultation Document for the Guidelines for the Reporting Framework for Beneficial Ownership of Legal Persons. SSM has invited any comments by 4 December 2019.

Credit: corporatecomplianceinsights.com

I had written earlier about the global trends for the need for transparency in beneficial ownership details and also the existing Malaysian position in the Companies Act 2016.

Once these proposed guidelines on beneficial ownership are brought into force, they will bring much certainty in terms of the disclosure obligations on the part of companies, limited liability partnerships and businesses in general. This is a good step in strengthening the need for disclosure on beneficial ownership.

In the first part of this post, I highlight some of the salient changes being proposed for companies specifically. In the second part, I then set out 8 of my observations on the proposed guidelines in relation to companies. Continue reading →

Companies Commission of Malaysia FAQ: Voting on Preference Shares and Single-Member Public Company Meetings

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The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM, being the Malay abbreviation) maintains a useful FAQ page on the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) and other transitional issues. This page is updated from time to time. The FAQ is stated as being for general reference. The document does not have legal force. The issues and answers may ultimately have to be tested in the courts.

I touch on two recent updates as at 7 August 2019 dealing with voting on preference shares and meetings of a single-member public company.

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Case Update: Malaysian Court Recognises Universal Succession and Transmission of Shares by Operation of Law

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The High Court in its grounds of judgment dated 5 August 2019 in the case of United Renewable Energy Co Ltd v TS Solartech Sdn Bhd. This is the first Malaysian decision to recognise the doctrine of universal succession. The Court gave effect to the transmission of shares by operation of law where there has been a foreign merger. This is a matter where I successfully acted for the applicant company.

The High Court granted a declaration that the foreign merger of the Taiwanese companies in question had carried into effect a transmission of shares held in a Malaysian company by operation of law. Further, the High Court allowed a rectification of the register of members of the Malaysian company to reflect the name of the successor entity.

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Case Update: Priority of Wages under the Employment Act over Debenture Holder Debts

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The High Court issued its grounds of judgment dated 18 July 2019 in the case of Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd (in receivership) v RHB Bank Berhad & 789 Others. Justice Darryl Goon delivered the decision.

The main issue was whether wages under section 31 of the Employment Act 1955 (Employment Act) would have priority over the debts owed to the debenture holder.

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Beneficial Ownership of Companies: Out of the Shadows

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Recent headlines have carried the news that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission wants to have its own provision on beneficial ownership in the MACC Act 2009 to identify real owners of businesses or properties to further eradicate corruption. This is also against a backdrop of the Panama Papers, and the Paradise Papers.

There is already an existing provision in the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) that deals with beneficial ownership. But perhaps, it does not go far enough.

It is important to identify the beneficial owner of a legal entity such as a company, a trust or a partnership. This will ensure tax transparency, and help to fight against tax evasion and financial crimes such as money laundering or terrorism financing. The true controllers of companies will be brought out of the shadows.

I set out some global trends, and I explain the existing Malaysian provision under the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) and the possible direction going forward.

[edit: On 8 November 2019, the Companies Commission of Malaysia issued its consultation document on the reporting framework for beneficial ownership. I have since written about it and with my observations over here.]

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