Chapter 2: Formation, Administration and Dissolution of Companies
Part F: Governance of companies

s75: Director's personal financial interests

(1) In this section:

(a) "director" includes-

(i) an alternate director;

(ii) a prescribed officer; and

(iii) a person who is a member of a committee of the board of a company, irrespective of whether the person is also a member of the company's board; and

(b) "related person", when used in reference to a director, has the meaning set out in section 1, but also includes a second company of which the director or a related person is also a director, or a close corporation of which the director or a related person is a member.

(2) This section does not apply:

(a) to a director of a company:

(i) in respect of a decision that may generally affect:

(aa) all of the directors of the company in their capacity as directors; or

(bb) a class of persons, despite the fact that the director is one member of that class of persons, unless the only members of the class are the director or persons related or inter-related to the director; or

(ii) in respect of a proposal to remove that director from office as contemplated in section 71; or

(b) to a company or its director, if one person:

(i) holds all of the beneficial interests of all of the issued securities of the company; and

(ii) is the only director of that company.

(3) If a person is the only director of a company, but does not hold all of the beneficial interests of all of the issued securities of the company, that person may not:

(a) approve or enter into any agreement in which the person or a related person has a personal financial interest; or

(b) as a director, determine any other matter in which the person or a related person has a personal financial interest,

as a director, determine any other matter in which the person or a related person has a personal financial interest,
(4) At any time, a director may disclose any personal financial interest in advance, by delivering to the board, or shareholders in the case of a company contemplated in subsection (3), a notice in writing setting out the nature and extent of that interest, to be used generally for the purposes of this section until changed or withdrawn by further written notice from that director.

(5) If a director of a company, other than a company contemplated in subsection (2)(b) or (3), has a personal financial interest in respect of a matter to be considered at a meeting of the board, or knows that a related person has a personal financial interest in the matter, the director:

(a) must disclose the interest and its general nature before the matter is considered at the meeting;

(b) must disclose to the meeting any material information relating to the matter, and known to the director;

(c) may disclose any observations or pertinent insights relating to the matter if requested to do so by the other directors;

(d) if present at the meeting, must leave the meeting immediately after making any disclosure contemplated in paragraph (b) or (c);

(e) must not take part in the consideration of the matter, except to the extent contemplated in paragraphs (b) and (c);

(f) while absent from the meeting in terms of this subsection:

(i) is to be regarded as being present at the meeting for the purpose of determining whether sufficient directors are present to constitute the meeting; and

(ii) is not to be regarded as being present at the meeting for the purpose of determining whether a resolution has sufficient support to be adopted;

and
(g) must not execute any document on behalf of the company in relation to the matter unless specifically requested or directed to do so by the board.

(6) If a director of a company acquires a personal financial interest in an agreement or other matter in which the company has a material interest, or knows that a related person has acquired a personal financial interest in the matter, after the agreement or other matter has been approved by the company, the director must promptly disclose to the board, or to the shareholders in the case of a company contemplated in subsection (3), the nature and extent of that interest, and the material circumstances relating to the director or related person's acquisition of that interest.

(7) A decision by the board, or a transaction or agreement approved by the board, or by a company as contemplated in subsection (3), is valid despite any personal financial interest of a director or person related to the director, only if:

(a) it was approved following disclosure of that interest in the manner contemplated in this section; or

(b) despite having been approved without disclosure of that interest, it-

(i) has subsequently been ratified by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders following disclosure of that interest; or

(ii) has been declared to be valid by a court in terms of subsection (8).

(8) A court, on application by any interested person, may declare valid a transaction or agreement that had been approved by the board, or shareholders, as the case may be, despite the failure of the director to satisfy the disclosure requirements of this section.

Related Sections

s71: Removal of directors

Related Regulations

No related regulations.

Related Notes

No related note.

s75: Director's personal financial interests

Related Sections

Related Regulations

Related Notes

Related Forms

Quick Links

Recent Articles

Opinion Categories