company law

10 Things on the New Beneficial Ownership Reporting in Malaysia

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The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) has issued the Guideline for the Reporting Framework for Beneficial Ownership of Legal Persons. This guideline has already come into force. Companies, limited liability partnerships and businesses have up to 31 December 2020 to obtain and update their beneficial ownership information.

I had earlier written about the global trends on disclosure of beneficial ownership and also the existing Malaysian position in the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016). I had also made some comments on the consultation document on the proposed beneficial ownership guidelines.

I now write on 10 things on the beneficial ownership framework to Malaysian companies and the responsibilities that follow.

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Company Law Case Update: Oppression Issues on Beneficial Shareholders and a Shareholders Agreement

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The High Court decision in Gue See Sew & 2 others v Heng Tang Hai & 2 others (see the Grounds of Judgment dated 2 January 2020 and at Gue See Sew & Ors v Heng Tang Hai & Ors [2020] MLJU 46) deals with important legal issues on whether a beneficial owner of shares can initiate an oppression action and whether breaches of a shareholders’ agreement can be grounds for oppression.

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Talk on Resolving Boardroom and Shareholders Disputes

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On Tuesday 7 April 2020, I will be speaking at the Companies Commission of Malaysia seminar on ‘Resolving Boardroom and Shareholders Disputes‘. It is a half day talk from 9am to 1pm and with a registration fee of RM250 or RM300. It is open to members of the public.

I am looking forward to sharing practical insight from the various cases I have worked on. I frequently receive queries from company secretaries, directors and shareholders on certain disputes. I then designed this seminar around these often raised issues. Continue reading →

How to Qualify as a Liquidator in Malaysia

Lee Shih5 Comments

Qualified persons can now apply to be licensed as liquidators, or also known as insolvency practitioners, in Malaysia. This allows for the licence holder to take on appointments as: (i) liquidator; (ii) receiver or receiver and manager; (iii) judicial manager; and (iv) a nominee in a corporate voluntary arrangement.

The Accountant General of Malaysia recently issued its Guidelines for Qualification as Liquidator under the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) dated 21 January 2020 (only available in the Malay language). This now allows for qualified persons to apply for a liquidator licence under the CA 2016.

I write about the past qualification route for liquidators under the Companies Act 1965 (CA 1965) and this new qualification regime under the CA 2016. Continue reading →

Case Update: Golden Plus Decision – Removal of Directors under the Companies Act 2016

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In the Golden Plus Holdings decision, the High Court sets out give important points relating to the removal of directors under the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016).  You can read the grounds of judgment dated 14 January 2020.

The decision deals with the issues relating to requisitioning an EGM, the unavailability of some directors to attend a Board meeting, whether there can be first a requisition and then a convening of an EGM, the special notice requirement for removal of a director, and whether there can be improper motives to invalidate the removal of a director.

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Companies Amendment Act 2019 comes into force on 15 January 2020

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The Companies (Amendment) Act 2019 will now come into force on 15 January 2020. This makes the first set of amendments to the Companies Act 2016.

The enforcement date was gazetted through P.U. (B) 16/2020. On the same date of 15 January 2020, the Companies (Company Auditor and Liquidator Fees) Regulations 2020 will also come into force (see P.U. (A) 9/2020).

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