company law

Practising Certificates for Company Secretaries: Proposed Regulations

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The Companies Commission of Malaysia, or Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), will be bringing into force the last remaining provision of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016). This is section 241 of the CA 2016 on the requirement for all company secretaries to register with SSM. SSM will issue practising certificates to all company secretaries.

In line with the coming into force of section 241 of the CA 2016, SSM has published  its Consultative Document on the Proposed Companies (Practising Certificate) Regulations 2019. SSM has invited comments on the Consultative Document by 30 October 2018.

I set out a bit of history leading up to this important provision for registration of all company secretaries, and my observations on the Consultative Document. Continue reading →

Shareholders’ Agreement to Appoint a Director: Not an Absolute Right

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Shareholders’ agreements and joint venture agreements usually contain provisions that allow for a shareholder to appoint a certain number of directors to the Board of the company. This allows for the balancing of the rights and commercial interests of the shareholders. For example, a minority shareholder may want to ensure that there is a guaranteed minimum Board representation that the minority shareholder can have.

The question is whether this contractual right to appoint a director is an absolute right and what is the legal nature of this power to appoint a director. Could there be situations where the board of directors will refuse to recognise the appointment of a director under a shareholders’ agreement? How is this interpreted in Malaysia under the Companies Act 2016?

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Bankruptcy and Directors: Vacating Seat and Potential Illegality

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There can be legal repercussions to a company when one of its directors is adjudged bankrupt. It is common in the constitution or articles of association to provide that the office of the director will become vacant if the director becomes bankrupt. I set out below three interesting legal issues that arise from bankruptcy and directors.

First, I will deal with the potential adverse impact of bankruptcy on directors’ resolutions and legal proceedings. This in light of the recent Court of Appeal decision in Sazean Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd v Bumi Bersatu Resources Sdn Bhd [2018] 5 AMR 443; [2018] MLJU 839. This decision was under the Companies Act 1965 (CA 1965). Secondly, I interpret these issues in light of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016). Thirdly, potential ways to overcome such arguments. Continue reading →

International Malaysia Law Conference 2018: Corporate Responsibilities Fiduciary Obligations

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I have been invited to speak at this year’s International Malaysia Law Conference 2018. I will be speaking on Day 2, Breakout Session 4, from 12pm to 1.15pm along with other panellist speakers. The session is titled Corporate Responsibilities: The Place of Fiduciary Obligations.

The Honourable Justice Margaret Beazly AO, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, will be the main speaker. Dato’ Anantham Kasinather, retired Court of Appeal Judge, and Dato’ Mohammed Faiz, Executive Chairman of PwC Malaysia, will also be sharing their insights.

Company directors have a fiduciary obligation to always act in the best interest of their company – in accordance with the business judgment rule – and to discharge their directors’ duties in compliance with the law. How should conflicts of duty and interests be dealt with? How does the Malaysian position compare with the position in New South Wales?

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Say on Pay: 6 Issues on Shareholders’ Say on Executive Salaries

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Shareholders’ say on pay. Over the last few weeks in Malaysia, there have been discussions on the pay of the top executives or directors of companies. I set out 6 key legal issues that relate to this in light of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) and the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance 2017 (MCCG). The issues include the distinction between directors’ fees and the pay or remuneration of a CEO, and how do shareholders have their say on the payment of these fees or remuneration.

I set out these issues in the context of public listed companies. Continue reading →

Book Review: Corporate Powers Accountability (Third Edition)

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Loh Siew Cheang’s Corporate Powers Accountability (Third Edition) is a must-have for corporate litigators and corporate lawyers

Introduction

A master craftsman would have essential tools for his trade. Likewise, a corporate litigator would have with him the essential text of Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang’s Corporate Powers Accountability.

Loh’s seminal text saw its second edition published in 2002. Sixteen years later, I looked forward to reading a copy of the third edition which was published in May 2018. I received a review copy of the book thanks to LexisNexis’ collaboration with The Malaysian Lawyer. I am extremely grateful to the publishers for extending me a copy of this book and the book will immediately find its place on my bookshelf.

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