Source: http://seychelleslaw.sc/I/international-business-companies-act.html
Timestamp: 2018-08-15 15:15:04
Document Index: 778766915

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n220', 'art.\n282', 'art.\n285', 'art.\n289', 'art.\n290', 'art.\n291', 'art.\n292', 'art.\n293', 'art.\n299', 'art.\n303']

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT | I | Alphabetical List of Statutes
CHAPTER 100A
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2016
Types of international business companies
5. Definition of international business companies.
6. Companies which may be incorporated or continued.
7. Protected cell companies.
8. Limited life companies.
Sub-Part II
9. Application to incorporate a company.
10. Incorporation of a company.
11. Effect of incorporation.
12. Annual fee.
13. Memorandum of association.
14. Content of the memorandum of association.
15. Memorandum of company with shares.
16. Memorandum of company with guarantee members.
17. Memorandum may specify objects.
18. Memorandum or articles of limited life company.
19. Language of memorandum.
20. Articles of association.
21. Language of articles.
Sub-Part III
Amendment and restatement of memorandum or articles
22. Amendment of memorandum or articles.
23. Registration of amendments to memorandum or articles.
24. Restated memorandum or articles.
25. Requirements as to names.
26. Restrictions on company names.
27. Rights and interests in names.
28. Language of company names.
29. Reservation of names.
30. Change of name.
31. Power to require change of name.
32. Reuse of company names.
COMPANY CAPACITY AND POWERS
33 Capacity and powers.
34. Validity of acts of company.
35. Personal liability.
36. Dealings between a company and other persons.
37 Contracts generally.
38. Pre-incorporation contracts.
39. Power of attorney.
40. Company seal.
41. Authentication or attestation.
42. Nature of shares.
43. Share rights.
44. Distinguishing numbers.
45. Series of shares.
46. Par value and no par value shares.
47. Fractional shares.
48. Bearer shares prohibited.
49. Issue of shares.
50. Consideration for shares.
51. Provision for different amounts to be paid on shares.
52. Shares issued for consideration other than money.
53. Time of issue.
54. Consent to issue certain shares.
55. Power to issue shares at a discount.
56. Power of company to pay commissions.
57. Pre-emptive rights.
58. Share certificates.
59. Transferability of shares.
60. Transfer of deceased member’s share by personal representative.
61. Transfer by operation of law.
62. Transfer of registered shares.
63. Refusal to register transfer.
64. Loss of instrument of transfer.
65. Time of transfer of share.
66. Transfer of securities through clearing agencies and securities facilities.
Sub-Part IV
67. Meaning of “solvency test”.
68. Meaning of “distribution”.
69. Meaning of “dividend”.
70. Distributions.
71. Cellular and non-cellular distributions by protected cell company.
72. Recovery of distributions made when company did not satisfy solvency test.
Sub-Part V
Redemption and purchase of own shares
73. Company may redeem or purchase its own shares.
74. Process for redemption or purchase of own shares.
75. Offer to one or more shareholders under section 74(1)(b)(ii).
76. Shares redeemed at the option of a shareholder.
77. Redemptions or purchase deemed not to be a distribution.
78. Treasury shares.
79. Transfer of treasury shares.
Sub-Part VI
80. Alteration of capital of par value companies.
81. Alteration of capital of no par value companies.
82. Forfeiture of shares.
83. Reduction of share capital.
84. Application to Court for order of confirmation.
85. Court order confirming reduction.
86. Registration of order and minute of reduction.
87. Liability of members on reduced shares.
88. Penalty for concealing name of creditor, etc.
Sub-Part VII
89. Interpretation.
90. Right to pledge shares.
91. Form of pledge of shares.
92. Pledge of shares governed by Seychelles law.
93. Exercising power of sale under Seychelles law pledge of shares.
94. Pledge of shares governed by foreign law.
95. Application of enforcement monies.
96. Annotating and filing of register of members.
Sub-Part VIII
Conversion of par value shares into no par value shares and vice-versa
97. Conversion of shares in par value companies.
98. Conversion of shares in no par value companies.
99. Minimum number of members.
100. Requirement for company limited by shares and guarantee.
101. Minors and incapacitated adults.
102. Liability of members.
103. Service on members.
104. Register of members.
105. Nature of register.
106. Register of members of listed companies.
107. Inspection of register of members.
108. Rectification of register of members.
Members meetings and resolutions
109. Resolutions.
110. Ordinary resolutions.
111. Ordinary resolutions may be required to have a higher proportion of votes.
112. Special resolutions.
113. Special resolutions may be required to have a higher proportion of votes.
114. Convening of members meetings.
115. Notice of meetings of members.
116. Quorum.
117. Attending meeting by telephone or other electronic means.
118. Representation of body corporate at meetings.
119. Jointly owned shares.
120. Proxies.
121. Demand for poll.
122. Written consent resolutions of members.
123. Court may order meeting.
124. Resolution passed at adjourned meeting.
125. Keeping of minutes and resolutions of members.
126. Location of minutes and resolutions of members.
127. Inspection of minutes and resolutions of members.
128. Management of company.
129. Carrying out of company obligations by directors.
130. Minimum number of directors.
131. De facto directors.
132. Delegation of powers.
133. Eligibility of directors.
134. Appointment of directors.
135. Nomination of reserve directors.
136. Cessation of nomination of reserve directors.
137. Removal of directors.
138. Resignation of directors.
139. Appointment of alternate directors.
140. Rights and duties of alternate directors.
141. Emoluments of directors.
142. Continuing liability.
143. Validity of acts of director.
Duties of directors and conflicts
144. Duties of directors.
145. Directors of subsidiaries, etc.
146. Avoidance of breach.
147. Reliance on records and reports.
148. Disclosure of interest.
149. Avoidance by company of transactions in which director is interested.
150. Register of directors.
151. Inspection of register of directors.
152. Filing of register of directors with Registrar.
Directors meetings and resolutions
153. Meetings of directors.
154. Notice of meeting of directors.
155. Resolutions of directors.
156. Keeping of minutes and resolutions of directors.
157. Location of minutes and resolutions of directors.
158. Inspection of minutes and resolutions of directors.
159. Indemnification.
160. Insurance.
161. Registered office.
162. Change of registered office.
163. Change of registered office where registered agent changes address.
164. Company to have registered agent.
165. Appointment of registered agent.
166. Deemed amendment of memorandum, where registered agent changes company name.
167. Resignation of registered agent.
168. Registered agent ceasing to be eligible to act.
169. Change of registered agent.
170. Company’s name to appear in its correspondence, etc.
171. Annual return.
172. Service of documents.
173. Furnishing of records.
174. Keeping of accounting records.
175. Location and preservation of accounting records.
176. Inspection of accounting records by directors.
CHARGES OVER COMPANY PROPERTY
177. Interpretation.
178. Company may charge its assets.
179. Register of charges.
180. Inspection of register of charges.
181. Registration of charges.
182. Variation of registered charges.
183. Satisfaction or release of charge.
184. Priorities among relevant charges.
185. Priorities relating to pre-existing charges.
186. Exceptions with respect to priorities.
187. Enforcement of charge governed by Seychelles law.
188. Exercising power of sale under a Seychelles law charge.
189. Interpretation.
190. Declaration of compliance.
191. Conversions not a default.
Conversion of an ordinary company into an international business company and vice-versa
192. Conversion of ordinary company into international business company.
193. Effect of conversion of ordinary company into international business company.
194. Conversion of international business company into ordinary company.
195. Effect of conversion of international business company into ordinary company.
Conversion of non-cellular company into protected cell company and vice-versa
196. Conversion of non-cellular company into a protected cell company.
197. Effects of conversion of non-cellular company into protected cell company.
198. Conversion of protected cell company into non-cellular company.
199. Effects of conversion of protected cell company into non-cellular company.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS
200. Interpretation.
201. Approval of merger or consolidation.
202. Registration of merger or consolidation.
203. Merger with subsidiary.
204. Effect of merger or consolidation.
205. Merger or consolidation with foreign company.
206. Approvals in respect of certain dispositions of assets.
Forced redemptions
207. Redemption of minority shares.
208. Arrangements.
209. Arrangement where company in liquidation.
210. Rights of dissenters.
Schemes of compromise or arrangement
211. Court application in respect of schemes of compromise or arrangement.
212. Continuation of foreign companies in Seychelles.
213. Articles of continuation.
214. Application to continue in Seychelles.
215. Continuation.
216. Effect of continuation under this Act.
217. Continuation outside Seychelles.
218. Effect of continuation outside of Seychelles.
219. Interpretation of this Part.
220. Companies which can be protected cell companies.
221. Consent of Authority required.
222. Determination of applications to and other decisions of Authority.
223. Appeals from determinations and other decisions of Authority.
Status, cells and cell shares
224. Status of protected cell companies.
225. Creation of cells.
226. Demarcation of the core.
227. Cell securities.
228. Cellular and core assets.
229. Recourse agreements.
230. Position of creditors.
231. Recourse to cellular assets by creditors.
232. Recourse to core assets by creditors.
233. Liability of cellular assets.
234. Liability of core assets.
235. Disputes as to liability attributable to cells.
236. Attribution of core assets and liabilities.
Dealings with and arrangements within protected cell companies
237. Company to inform persons they are dealing with a protected cell company.
238. Transfer of cellular assets from protected cell company.
239. Arrangements between cells affecting cellular assets, etc.
240. Receivership orders in relation to cells.
241. Applications for receivership orders.
242. Functions of receiver and effect of receivership order.
243. Discharge and variation of receivership orders.
244. Remuneration of receiver.
245. Information to be given by receiver.
246. Administration order in relation to protected cell companies or cells.
247. Application for administration order.
248. Functions of administrator and effect of administration order.
249. Discharge and variation of administration order.
250. Remuneration of administrator.
251. Information to be given by administrator.
Liquidation of protected cell companies
252. Provisions in relation to liquidation of protected cell company.
Sub-Part IX
253. Liability to criminal penalties.
254. Definition of “inspector”.
255. Investigation order.
256. Court’s powers.
257. Inspector’s powers.
258. Hearing in camera.
259. Offences relating to false information.
260. Inspector’s report to be evidence.
261. Privilege.
262. Power for member to apply to Court.
263. Power for the Registrar to apply to Court.
264. Powers of Court.
265. Disqualification orders.
266. Ground for making a disqualification order.
267. Right of appeal to the Court of Appeal.
268. Variation of disqualification orders.
269. Revocation of disqualification orders.
270. Consequences of breaking a disqualification order.
271. Register of disqualification orders.
STRIKING OFF, WINDING UP AND DISSOLUTION
Striking off and dissolution
272. Striking off.
273. Appeal against striking off.
274. Effect of striking off.
275. Dissolution of company struck off the Register.
276. Restoration of company to the Register by Registrar.
277. Court application to restore company to Register.
278. Appointment of liquidator of company struck off.
279. Undistributed property of dissolved company.
280. Disclaimer.
Voluntary winding up of solvent company
281. Application of this Sub-Part.
282. Voluntary winding up plan.
283. Commencement of voluntary winding up of solvent company.
284. Eligibility to be liquidator under this Sub-Part.
285. Filing with Registrar.
286. Notice of voluntary winding up.
287. Effect of commencement of voluntary winding up.
288. Duties of liquidator under this Sub-Part.
289. Powers of liquidator in voluntary winding up under this Sub-Part.
290. Vacancy in office of liquidator under this Sub-Part.
291. Resignation of liquidator under this Sub-Part.
292. Removal of liquidator under this Sub-Part.
293. Rescission of voluntary winding up.
294. Termination of voluntary winding up by the Court.
295. Power to apply to Court for directions.
296. Interim account of conduct of winding up.
297. Dissolution.
Voluntary winding up of insolvent company
298. Application of this Sub-Part.
299. Meaning of “insolvent”.
300. Where company found to be insolvent.
301. Commencement of voluntary winding up of insolvent company.
302. Application of certain provisions of Sub-Part II to this Sub-Part.
303. Filing with Registrar.
304. Notice of voluntary winding up.
305. Liquidator to call first meeting of creditors.
306. Examination of liquidator’s accounts by creditors.
307. Statement of account of the winding up prior to dissolution.
308. Dissolution.
309. Application for compulsory winding up.
310. Circumstances in which Court may wind company up.
311. Authority may be heard on winding up application.
312. Ground on which Registrar, Authority or Minister may make winding up application..
313. Power to restrain proceedings and appoint provisional liquidator.
314. Powers of Court on hearing application.
315. Appointment of liquidator in compulsory winding up.
316. Liquidator’s remuneration.
317. Filing with Registrar.
318. Notice of compulsory winding up.
319. Liquidator to call first meeting of creditors.
320. Consequences of appointment of liquidator and compulsory winding up order.
321. Powers of a liquidator appointed by the Court.
322. Resignation, removal or death of liquidator.
323. Examination of liquidator’s accounts by creditors.
324. Power to apply to Court for directions.
325. Statement of account of the compulsory winding up prior to dissolution.
326. Dissolution.
Provisions of general application in winding up
327. Interpretation.
328. Liquidator to call meetings of creditors.
329. Distribution of company assets.
330. Expenses of winding up.
331. Secured creditors.
332. Preferential payments.
333. No share transfers after commencement of winding up.
334. Company to be notified of winding up application.
335. Hearing in camera.
336. Company not to undertake business once dissolved.
337. Remedy against delinquent officers.
338. Improper preferences in or prior to winding up.
339. Offence of fraudulent trading.
340. Civil liability for fraudulent trading.
341. Civil liability of directors for wrongful trading.
342. Civil liability of directors for wrongful trading: cells of protected cell company.
343. Proceedings under sections 340, 341 or 342.
344. Registrar of International Business Companies.
345. Official seal.
346. Registers.
347. Inspection of documents filed.
348. Copies of documents filed.
349. Optional registration of specified registers.
350. Optional filing of annual financial statements by international business companies.
351. Certificate of good standing.
352. Certificate of official search.
353. Form of documents to be filed.
354. Penalty fees and the Registrar’s right to refuse to take action.
OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO BENEFICIAL OWNERS
355. Register of beneficial owners: definitions and interpretation.
356. Register of beneficial owners.
357. Inspection of register of beneficial owners.
358. Rectification of register of beneficial owners.
359. Company’s duty to seek beneficial ownership information.
360. Disclosure of beneficial ownership information.
361. Exemption from specified laws.
362. Stamp duty.
363. Minimum period of exemptions and concessions.
364. Form of records.
365. Delivery of electronic records generally.
366. Deemed delivery by website publication.
367. Delivery of electronic records to the Registrar.
368. Offences.
369. Accessories and abettors.
370. Liability for false statements.
371. Power of Court to grant relief.
372. Declaration by Court.
373. Judge in chambers.
374. Appeals against Registrar’s decisions.
375. Legal professional privilege.
376. Immunity.
377. Inspections.
378. Non-disclosure obligation and permitted exceptions.
379. Position with respect to other laws.
380. Regulations.
381. Repeal of law.
382. Modification of Civil Code of Seychelles with respect to companies.
383. Former Act companies automatically re-registered under this Act.
384. Certificate of re-registration where former Act company re-registered automatically.
385. Effect of automatic re-registration under this Act.
386. Restoration of former Act companies struck off the register maintained under the former Act.
387. Restoration of dissolved former Act companies.
388. Delivery of records.
389. Transition for former Act companies.
390. Transition for all companies.
391. References to companies in other enactments.
392. Repeal of Cap. 100A.
FIRST SCHEDULE - INCORPORATION OR CONTINUATION APPLICATION
THIRD SCHEDULE - RESTRICTED WORDS
FOURTH SCHEDULE - LANGUAGE OF COMPANY NAMES
FIFTH SCHEDULE - REUSE OF COMPANY NAMES
SIXTH SCHEDULE - ANNUAL RETURN CONTENT
15 of 2016,
SI 72 of 2016,
SI 80 of 2016.
AN ACT to consolidate and modernise the law relating to the International Business Companies in line with the changes in the international field and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
[Date of commencement: 1st December 2016]
This Act may be cited as the International Business Companies Act, 2016.
“acceptable translator” means person who is—
(a) in respect of a language other than English or French, for the purposes of this Act capable of translating that language into English or French, as applicable; and
(b) acceptable to the Registrar as a translator in accordance with such requirements as may be specified in written guidelines issued by the Registrar;
“accounting records”, in relation to a company, means documents in respect of—
(a) the company’s assets and liabilities;
(b) the receipts and expenditure of the company; and
(c) the sales, purchases and other transactions to which the company is a party;
“Act commencement date” means the date on which this Act comes into force;
“Appeals Board” means the Appeals Board established under the Financial Services Authority (Appeals Board) Regulations 2014;
“approved form” means a form approved by the Registrar or the Authority in accordance with section 353;
“associated company” means as defined in section 3(2);
“authorised capital”, in relation to a company, means—
(a) in the case of a par value company, the maximum amount of share capital that the company is authorised by its memorandum to issue;
(b) in the case of a no par value company, the maximum number, if any, of no par value shares that the company is authorised by its memorandum to issue;
“Authority” means the Financial Services Authority as established by the Financial Services Authority Act;
“Authority’s Website” means the Authority’s principal public access internet website for the time being maintained by or on behalf of the Authority;
“bearer share” means a share represented by a certificate which—
(a) does not record the owner’s name; and
(b) states to the effect that the bearer of the certificate is the owner of the share;
“board”, in relation to a company, means—
(a) the board of directors, committee of management or other governing authority of the company; or
“body corporate” includes a company, a corporation registered under the Companies Act and a body corporate incorporated outside Seychelles, but does not include an unincorporated association or an unincorporated partnership;
“business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in Seychelles;
“cell” means a cell of a protected cell company;
“class of members”, in respect of a protected cell company, includes—
(a) the members of a cell of the company; and
(b) any class of members of a cell of the company;
(a) an international business company; or
(b) a former Act company;
“company limited by shares” means a company—
(a) whose memorandum limits the liability of all its members to the amount (if any) unpaid on the shares respectively held by its members; and
(i) incorporated with a share capital comprising par value shares; or
(ii) authorised to issue no par value shares;
“company limited by guarantee” means a company whose memorandum limits the liability of all its members to a fixed amount which each member thereby undertakes, by way of guarantee and not by reason of holding any share, to contribute to the assets of the company if it is wound up;
“company limited by shares and guarantee” means a company—
(a) whose memorandum limits the liability of one or more of its members to a fixed amount which each member thereby undertakes, by way of guarantee and not by reason of holding any share, to contribute to the assets of the company if it is wound up;
(b) whose memorandum limits the liability of one or more its members to the amount (if any) unpaid on the shares respectively held by its members; and
“dissolved”, in relation to a company, means dissolved under this Act or any other written law of Seychelles;
“distribution” means as defined in section 68;
“dividend” means as defined in section 69;
“document” means a document in any form and includes—
(b) a book, graph, drawing or other pictorial representation or image;
(c) information recorded or stored by any electronic or other technological means and capable with or without the aid of any equipment of being reproduced;
“electronic form” with reference to information means any information generated, sent, received or stored in any computer storage media such as magnetic, optical, computer memory or other similar devices;
“electronic record” means data, record or data generated, image or sound stored, received or sent in an electronic form and includes any electronic code or device necessary to decrypt or interpret the electronic record;
“executive”, in relation to a company, means a person employed in an executive or managerial capacity;
“foreign company” means a body corporate that is incorporated or registered under the laws of a jurisdiction outside Seychelles;
“former Act” means the International Business Companies Act 1994 repealed by section 381;
“former Act company” means a company which was incorporated or continued under the former Act;
“guarantee member”, in relation to a company, means a person—
(a) being a member whose liability in his capacity as such a member is limited by the company’s memorandum to the amount which he thereby undertakes, by way of guarantee and not by reason of holding any share, to contribute to the assets of the company if it is wound up; and
(b) whose name is entered in the register of members as a guarantee member;
“international business company” means as defined in section 5(1);
“incapacitated adult” means a person, other than a minor, who under the written law of Seychelles does not have legal capacity;
“limited company” means—
(c) a company limited by shares and guarantee;
“limited life company” means a limited life company as defined in section 8(1);
“member”, in relation to a company, means a person whose name is entered in the company’s register of members as—
(a) a shareholder; or
(b) a guarantee member;
“minor” means an individual under the age of 18;
“non-cellular company” means an international business company which is not a protected cell company;
“no par value company” means a company which is—
(a) authorised to issue no par value shares; and
(b) not authorised to issue par value shares,
whether or not it also has guarantee members;
“no par value share” means a registered share which is not expressed as having nominal value;
“officer”, in relation to a company, means a director, executive, secretary or liquidator;
“Official Seal” means the official seal of the Registrar as provided for in section 345;
“ordinary company” means a company registered under the Companies Act;
“ordinary resolution” means an ordinary resolution of members as defined in section 110;
“parent”, in relation to a company, foreign company or other body corporate, means as defined in section 3(1)(b);
“par value company” means a company which is—
(a) registered with share capital comprising par value shares; and
(b) not authorised to issue no par value shares,
“par value share” means a registered share which is expressed as having nominal value;
“protected cell company” means an international business company to which section 7 applies;
“records” means documents and other records however stored;
“registered agent” means, in relation to a company, the person who is the company’s registered agent in accordance with section 164;
“registered share” means a share in a company which is issued to a named person, whose name is entered in the company’s register of members as the holder of that share;
“Register of Registered Charges” means the Register of Registered Charges maintained by the Registrar in accordance with sections 181(3) and 346(1)(b);
“Register” means the Register of International Business Companies maintained by the Registrar in accordance with section 346(1)(a);
“Registrar” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority appointed under section 9 of the Financial Services Authority Act;
“resident person” means—
(a) an individual who resides in Seychelles or who is present in Seychelles for a period of, or periods amounting in aggregate to, 183 days or more in any 12 month period that commences or ends during a calendar year;
(b) a company registered under this Act;
(c) a body corporate registered under the Companies Act;
(d) a foreign company managed and controlled in Seychelles;
(e) a partnership in which one of the partners is a resident in Seychelles, including a limited partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act;
(f) a foundation registered under the Foundations Act; or
(g) a trust registered under the International Trusts Act;
“resolution of directors” means as defined in section 155;
“secured creditor” means as defined in section 327(c);
“securities” means as defined in section 2(1) of the Securities Act, including shares and debt obligations of every kind and options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares or debt obligations;
“share” means a par value share or a no par value share in a body corporate or a cell, in respect of which liability is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on it;
“share capital”, in relation to a company, means—
(a) in the case of a par value company, the sum of the aggregate par value of all the issued and outstanding par value shares of a company and shares with par value held by the company as treasury shares;
(b) in the case of a no par value company, the aggregate of the amounts designated by the directors as share capital of all issued and outstanding no par value shares of the company and no par value shares held by the company as treasury shares,
and the amounts as may be from time to time transferred from surplus to share capital by a resolution of the directors;
“solvency test” means a solvent test as specified in section 67;
“special resolution” means a special resolution of members as specified in section 112;
“subsidiary”, in relation to a company, foreign company or other body corporate, means as defined in section 3(1)(c);
“surplus”, in relation to a company, means the excess, if any, at the time of the determination, of total assets of the company over the sum of its total liabilities, as shown in the books of account plus its share capital;
“tax treaty” means a treaty or agreement between the Government of Seychelles and the government of one or more other countries—
(a) for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income; or
(b) on exchange of information on tax matters; and
“treasury share” means a share of a company that was previously issued but was repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by the company and not cancelled.
(a) “group”, in relation to a company (referred to in this paragraph as the “first company”), means the first company and any other company that is—
(i) a parent of the first company;
(ii) a subsidiary of the first company;
(iii) a subsidiary of a parent of the first company; or
(iv) a parent of a subsidiary of the first company;
(b) “parent”, in relation to a company (referred to in this paragraph as the “first company”), means another company that, whether acting alone or under an agreement with one or more other persons,—
(i) holds, whether legally or beneficially, a majority of the issued shares of the first company;
(ii) has the power, directly or indirectly, to exercise, or control the exercise of, a majority of the voting rights in the first company;
(iii) has the right to appoint or remove the majority of the directors of the first company;
(iv) has the right to exercise a dominant influence over the management and control of the first company pursuant to a provision in the constitutional documents of the first company; or
(v) is a parent of a parent of the first company; and
(c) “subsidiary”, in relation to a company (referred to in this paragraph as the “first company”), means a company of which the first company is a parent.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a company is associated with another company if it is in the same group as the other company and references to an “associated company” shall be construed accordingly.
This Act shall apply to—
(a) an international business company; and
(b) a former Act company.
(1) An “international business company” means a company incorporated or continued, or converted into a company, under this Act and whose memorandum states that it is subject to the restrictions referred to in subsection (2).
(2) A company shall not—
(a) subject to subsection (3), carry on business in Seychelles;
(b) own an interest in immovable property situated in Seychelles, or a lease of immovable property situated in Seychelles otherwise than as referred to in subsection (3)(f);
(c) carry on banking business (as defined in the Financial Institutions Act) in or outside Seychelles;
(d) carry on insurance business (as defined in the Insurance Act)—
(i) in Seychelles; or
(ii) outside Seychelles unless it is licensed or otherwise legally able to do so under the laws of each country outside Seychelles in which it carries on such business;
(e) carry on business providing international corporate services, international trustee services or foundation services (as defined in the International Corporate Service Providers Act (Cap. 275)) except—
(i) to the extent permitted under the International Corporate Service Providers Act (Cap. 275); and
(ii) in the case of carrying on such business outside Seychelles, if the company is licensed or otherwise legally able to do so under the laws of each country outside Seychelles in which it carries on such business;
(f) carry on securities business (as defined in the Securities Act)—
(g) carry on business as a mutual fund (as defined in the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act) unless it is licensed or otherwise legally able to do so under the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act or under the laws of a recognised jurisdiction (as defined in the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act); or
(h) carry on gambling business (as defined in the Seychelles Gambling Act), including interactive gambling business,—
(ii) outside Seychelles unless it is licensed or otherwise legally able to do so under the laws of each country outside Seychelles in which it carries on such business.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a), a company shall not be treated as carrying on business in Seychelles by reason only that—
(a) it opens and maintains an account with a bank licensed under the Financial Institutions Act;
(b) it engages the services of or otherwise deals with counsel, attorneys-at-law, accountants, book-keepers, international corporate service providers, international trustee service providers, foundation service providers, mutual fund administrators or managers, securities dealers, investment advisers or other similar persons carrying on business in Seychelles;
(c) it prepares or maintains its books and records within Seychelles;
(d) it holds meetings of its directors or members, or passes written consent resolutions of its directors or members, in Seychelles;
(e) it concludes or signs contracts in Seychelles, and exercises in Seychelles all other powers, so far as may be necessary for the carrying on of its business outside Seychelles;
(f) it holds shares, debt obligations or other securities in a company incorporated under this Act or in a body corporate registered under the Companies Act;
(g) it has any interest or entitlement as a beneficiary of a foundation registered under the Foundations Act;
(h) it has any interest or entitlement as a beneficiary of a trust registered under the International Trusts Act;
(i) it has any interest in a partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act;
(j) it operates as a licensed mutual fund under the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act;
(k) shares, debt obligations or other securities in the company are owned by a resident person;
(l) it is listed on a licensed securities exchange under the Securities Act;
(m) it holds a licence under the International Trade Zone Act; or
(n) subject to the provisions of the International Corporate Service Providers Act (Cap. 275), any of its directors are resident persons.
(4) A company may own or manage a vessel registered in Seychelles under the Merchant Shipping Act and the vessel may visit or be situated in Seychelles waters, provided that the company shall not carry on any business in Seychelles in contravention of section 5(2)(a), including, fishing, charter or tourism business involving the vessel.
(1) An international business company shall be incorporated or continued, or converted into a company, under this Act as—
(c) a company limited by shares and guarantee.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an international business company may be—
(a) a protected cell company; or
(b) limited life company.
A company is a protected cell company if—
(a) it has been incorporated or continued under this Act in accordance with Part XIII including having obtained the Authority’s written consent under section 221 which has not been revoked; and
(b) its memorandum provides that it is a protected cell company.
A company is a limited life company if its memorandum includes a provision that the company shall be wound up and dissolved upon—
(a) the expiration of a fixed period of time; or
(b) the bankruptcy, death, expulsion, insanity, resignation or retirement of any member of the company; or
(c) the happening of some other event which is not the expiration of a fixed period of time.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an application may be made to the Registrar for the incorporation of a company under this Act by filing with the Registrar—
(a) a memorandum and articles which comply with the requirements of this Act, signed by or on behalf of each subscriber in accordance with sections 13 and 20;
(b) an incorporation application in the approved form in accordance with Part I of the First Schedule, signed by or on behalf of each subscriber to the memorandum and articles;
(c) if the company is to be incorporated as a protected cell company, the written consent of the Authority given under section 221;
(d) the applicable incorporation fee as specified in Part I of the Second Schedule; and
(e) such other documents as may be prescribed.
(2) An application for the incorporation of a company shall only be filed by its proposed registered agent.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the “proposed registered agent” means the person named in the memorandum as the first registered agent of the company.
(1) If the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements of this Act in respect of incorporation of a company have been complied with, the Registrar shall upon receipt of the documents filed under section 9(1),—
(b) allot a unique registration number to the company; and
(c) issue a certificate of incorporation to the company in the approved form.
(2) The certificate of incorporation shall be signed by the Registrar and sealed with the Official Seal.
(1) A certificate of incorporation issued under this Act is conclusive evidence of the following matters—
(a) that the company is incorporated under this Act; and
(b) that the requirements of this Act have been complied with in respect of the incorporation of the company.
(2) Upon incorporation of a company under this Act—
(a) the company is a legal entity in its own right separate from its members and continues in existence until it is dissolved;
(b) the memorandum and articles are binding as between—
(i) the company and each member of the company; and
(ii) each member of the company.
(3) The company, the board, each director and each member of a company has the rights, powers, duties and obligations set out in this Act except to the extent that they are negated or modified, as permitted by this Act, by the memorandum or the articles.
(4) The memorandum and articles of a company have no effect to the extent that they contravene or are inconsistent with this Act.
(1) Each company which is on the Register shall pay to the Registrar on or before the date of each anniversary of its incorporation, continuation or conversion under this Act, the annual fee set out in Part I of the Second Schedule.
(2) Payment under subsection (1) shall be made by the company through its registered agent.
(3) Where the annual fee referred to in subsection (1) is not paid by the date set out in that subsection, the amount of the annual fee shall increase by 10 percent.
(4) Where the company fails to pay the amount due as an increased annual fee under subsection (3) within 90 days of the date when it becomes due, then the amount of the annual fee shall increase by 50 percent.
(1) The memorandum of a company shall—
(a) state the full name and address of each subscriber; and
(b) be printed and signed by or on behalf of each subscriber in the presence of at least one witness who shall attest the signature and insert his own name and address.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the sole subscriber who signs the memorandum of a company may be its proposed registered agent, who shall not be required to become a member of the company upon its incorporation.
The memorandum of a company shall state—
(b) the address in Seychelles of the company’s registered office as at the date of the memorandum;
(c) whether the company is—
(i) a company limited by shares;
(ii) a guarantee company; or
(iii) a company limited by shares and guarantee;
(d) the name and address of the company’s registered agent as at the date of the memorandum;
(e) the restrictions set out in section 5(2) of this Act; and
(f) otherwise as may be required by this Act.
In the case of a company limited by shares or otherwise authorised to issue shares, the memorandum shall state—
(a) if it is a par value company, the authorised capital with which the company is to be registered and the number of shares of a fixed nominal value in each class comprising the authorised capital;
(b) if it is a no par value company, the authorised capital with which the company is to be registered and the limit (if any) on the number of shares of each class which the company is to be authorised to issue;
(c) that the liability of a member arising from the member’s holding of any share is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on it; and
(d) the classes of shares that the company is authorised to issue and, if the company is authorised to issue two or more classes of shares, the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to each class of shares.
(1) Where a company is to be registered with a memorandum which provides for guarantee members, the memorandum shall state that each guarantee member is liable to contribute to the assets of the company, if it should be wound up while he is a member or within 12 months after he ceases to be a member, such fixed amount as may be required for the purposes specified in subsection (2) but does not exceed a maximum amount to be specified in the memorandum in relation to that member.
(2) The purposes to which subsection (1) refers are—
(a) payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he ceases to be a member;
(3) In the case of a company limited by shares and guarantee, the memorandum or articles may—
(a) require a guarantee member also to be a shareholder; or
(b) prohibit a guarantee member from also being a shareholder.
(4) If the memorandum or articles of a company limited by shares and guarantee do not make provision under subsection (3), a guarantee member may also be a shareholder.
(5) A company limited by shares shall not amend its memorandum under Sub-Part III of this Part to change its status into a company limited by guarantee or company limited by shares and guarantee unless—
(a) there is no unpaid liability on any of its issued shares; and
(b) the company’s proposed amended memorandum and change of status, including any proposed cancellation of shares, has been approved by unanimous resolution of members or, if permitted by its memorandum, by ordinary resolution.
(1) The memorandum may specify objects of the company and may provide that the activities of the company shall be restricted to the attainment or furtherance of the specified objects.
(a) no objects of the company are specified in the memorandum;
(b) objects are specified but the activities of the company are not restricted to the attainment or furtherance of those objects; or
(c) the memorandum contains a statement, either alone or with other objects, that the object of the company is to engage in any act or activity that is not prohibited under any law for the time being in force in Seychelles,
the company’s objects shall be deemed to include, and the company shall have full power and the authority to carry out or to engage in, any act or activity that is not prohibited under any law for the time being in force in Seychelles, subject to any limitations in the memorandum.
Where a company is to be wound up and dissolved upon—
(a) the expiration of a period of time; or
that period or event shall be specified in the memorandum or articles of the company.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the memorandum of a company shall be in English or French or in any other official language of any country.
(2) Where the language of the memorandum of a company is a language other than English or French, the memorandum shall be accompanied by a translation of it, in the English or French language, certified as true and accurate by the company’s proposed registered agent.
(3) The registered agent shall not give a certificate under subsection (2) unless the translation has been obtained from or confirmed by an acceptable translator.
(1) A company’s articles shall set out regulations for the company.
(2) The articles of a company shall be printed and signed by or on behalf of each subscriber in the presence of at least one witness who shall attest the signature and insert his own name and address.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) the sole subscriber who signs the articles of a company may be its proposed registered agent, who shall not be required to become a member of the company upon its incorporation.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the articles of a company shall be in English or French or in any other official language of any country.
(2) Where the language of the articles of a company is a language other than English or French, the articles shall be accompanied by a translation of it, in the English or French language, certified as true and accurate by the company’s proposed registered agent.
(3) The registered agent shall not give a certificate under subsection (2), unless the translation has been obtained from or confirmed by an acceptable translator.
Amendment and restatement of memorandum or
(1) Subject to this section and section 23, the memorandum or articles of a company may be amended by—
(a) an ordinary resolution; or
(b) a resolution of directors.
(2) The memorandum or articles of a company may not be amended—
(a) by a resolution of directors alone, if this Act requires that the proposed amendment be approved by resolution of members; or
(b) by a resolution of directors or members alone, if this Act requires that the proposed amendment also be approved by the Court.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the memorandum of a company may include one or more of the following provisions—
(a) that specified provisions of the memorandum or articles may not be amended;
(b) that the memorandum or articles, or specified provisions of the memorandum or articles, may be amended only if certain specified conditions are met;
(c) that all or any provisions of the memorandum or articles may only be amended by a resolution of members;
(d) that a resolution passed by a specified majority of members representing in excess fifty per cent of the votes of those members entitled to vote, is required to amend the memorandum or articles or specified provisions of the memorandum or articles.
(4) Subsections (3)(a) and (b) do not apply to any provision in the memorandum of a company that restricts the objects of that company.
(5) Notwithstanding any provision in a company’s memorandum or articles to the contrary, the directors of the company shall not have the power to amend the memorandum or articles—
(a) to restrict the rights or powers of the members to amend the memorandum or articles;
(b) to change the percentage of members required to pass a resolution to amend the memorandum or articles; or
(c) in circumstances where the memorandum or articles cannot be amended by the members,
and any resolution of the directors of a company is void and of no effect to the extent that it contravenes this subsection.
(1) Where a resolution is passed to amend the memorandum or articles of a company, the company shall file for registration a certified copy or extract of the resolution approving the amendment to its memorandum or articles in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) In respect of the certified copy or extract of the resolution referred to in subsection (1), an extract of the resolution shall be certified as a true copy and signed by the registered agent of the company.
(3) An amendment to the memorandum or articles only has effect from the date that the certified copy or extract resolution referred to in subsection (1) is registered by the Registrar.
(1) A company may at any time file with the Registrar a restated memorandum or articles.
(2) A restated memorandum or articles filed under subsection (1) shall incorporate only such amendments that have been registered under section 23.
(3) Where a company files a restated memorandum or articles under subsection (1), the restated memorandum or articles has effect as the memorandum or articles of the company with effect from the date that it is registered by the Registrar.
(4) The Registrar is not required to verify that a restated memorandum or articles filed under this section incorporates all the amendments, or only those amendments, that have been registered under section 23.
(5) It is not obligatory that a restated memorandum or articles filed under subsection (1) be signed by the original subscriber.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the name of a company shall end with—
(a) the word “Limited”, “Corporation” or “Incorporated”; or
(b) the abbreviation “Ltd”, “Corp” or “Inc”.
(2) The name of a protected cell company shall end with the words “Protected Cell Company” or with the abbreviation “PCC”.
(3) A company may use, and be legally designated by, either the full or the abbreviated form of any word or words required as part of its name under this section.
(4) Where the abbreviation “Ltd”, “Corp”, “Inc” or “PCC” is used as part of a company’s name, a full-stop may be inserted at the end of the abbreviation.
(5) A protected cell company shall assign a distinctive name to each of its cells that—
(a) distinguishes the cell from any other cell of the company; and
(b) ends with the words “Protected Cell” or with the abbreviation “PC”.
(6) Subject to subsection (7) and notwithstanding subsection (1), a former Act company may retain any name, including any suffix denoting limited liability, which was permissible under the former Act.
(7) If a former Act company changes its name on or after the Act commencement date, it shall comply with
A company shall not be registered, whether on incorporation, continuation, conversion, merger or consolidation, under a name that—
(a) is identical to the name under which another company is registered under this Act;
(b) is so similar to the name under which another company is registered under this Act that the use of the name would, in the opinion of the Registrar, be likely to confuse or mislead;
(c) includes a prohibited word, phrase or abbreviation referred to in Part I of the Third Schedule;
(d) includes a restricted word, phrase or abbreviation referred to in Part II of the Third Schedule, unless the prior written consent to the use of the word, phrase or abbreviation has been given by the Registrar and any other regulatory body whose consent thereto is required under Seychelles law; or
(e) in the opinion of the Registrar—
(i) suggests or is calculated to suggest the patronage or any connection with the Government of Seychelles or the government of any other country; or
(ii) is in any way offensive, misleading, objectionable or contrary to public policy or to the public interest.
(1) Nothing in this Part requires the Registrar, when determining whether to incorporate, continue or convert a company under a name, to register a change of name or to direct a change of name, to—
(a) make a determination of any person’s interest in a name, or the rights of any person concerning a name or the use of a name, whether the interest or rights are alleged to arise under Seychelles law or any law in a jurisdiction other than Seychelles; or
(b) to take account of any trademark, or equivalent right, whether registered in Seychelles or in a jurisdiction other than Seychelles.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the Registrar taking into account any matter specified in that subsection when determining whether, in his opinion, the registration of a company name is, or would be, objectionable or contrary to public policy or to the public interest.
(3) The registration of a company under this Act with a company name does not give the company any interest in, or rights over, the name that it would not have, apart from this Part.
Subject to sections 25, 26 and 31 of this Act and to the requirements set out in the Fourth Schedule—
(a) the name of a company may be expressed in any language; and
(b) where the name of a company is in the English or French language, it may have an additional foreign character name.
(1) Subject to this section, the Registrar may upon a request made by a person licensed to provide international corporate services under the International Corporate Service Providers Act (Cap. 275), reserve for 30 days a name for future adoption by a company under this Act.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to reserve a name if he is not satisfied that the name complies with this Part in respect of the company or proposed company.
(3) On the expiry of the 30 day period referred to in subsection (1), the Registrar may, on payment of the fee specified in Part II of the Second Schedule, for each 30 day period thereafter, continue reserving the name for future adoption by a company under this Act.
(1) Subject to its memorandum and articles, a company may apply to the Registrar to change its name or its foreign character name by way of an amendment to its memorandum and articles in accordance with sections 22 and 23.
(2) Where a company proposes to change its name or its foreign character name, section 26 shall apply to the name by which the company proposes to change its name.
(3) Where a company applies to change its name or its foreign character name, the Registrar shall, on compliance by the company with sections 22 and 23, and if it is satisfied that the proposed new name or new foreign character name of the company complies with section 26—
(a) enter the new name in the Register in the place of the former name; and
(b) issue a certificate of change of name to the company.
(4) A change of the name of a company under this section or section 31—
(a) takes effect from the date of the certificate of change of name issued by the Registrar; and
(b) does not affect any rights or obligations of the company or render defective any legal proceedings by or against it, and any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against it by its former name may be continued or commenced against it by its new name.
(1) If a company has been incorporated, continued or converted into a company under this Act with, or has changed its name to, a name which, in the opinion of the Registrar, does not comply with sections 25 or 26 the Registrar may—
(a) within 2 years of that time direct the company by written notice to make an application to change its name or its foreign character name on or before a date specified in the notice, which shall be not less than 30 days after the date of the notice; or
(b) apply to the Court for, and the Court may grant, an order changing the company’s name or its foreign character name, or requiring the company to change such name, to a name acceptable to the Registrar on such terms as the Court thinks fit.
(2) If a company that has received a notice under subsection (1)(a) fails to file an application to change its name to a name acceptable to the Registrar on or before the date specified in the notice, the Registrar may revoke the name of the company and assign it a new name acceptable to the Registrar.
(3) Where the Registrar assigns a new name to a company under subsection (2) or pursuant to an order made by the Court under subsection (1)(b), it shall—
(a) enter the new name in the Register in the place of the former name;
(b) issue a certificate of change of name to the company; and
(c) publish the change of name in the Gazette.
(4) A company that fails to comply with a direction given under this section within the period of time specified by the Registrar under subsection (1)(a) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding US$10,000.
The Registrar may permit the reuse of company names as provided for in the Fifth Schedule.
33. Capacity and powers.
(1) Subject to this Act, any other written law and its memorandum and articles, a company has, irrespective of corporate benefit—
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), subject to its memorandum and articles, subsection (3) and section 48 (Bearer shares prohibited), the powers of a company include the power to do any of the following—
(a) issue and cancel shares and hold treasury shares;
(b) grant options over unissued shares in the company and treasury shares;
(c) issue securities that are convertible into shares;
(d) give financial assistance to any person in connection with the acquisition of its own shares;
(e) issue debt obligations of every kind and grant options, warrants and rights to acquire debt obligations;
(f) guarantee a liability or obligation of any person and secure any obligations by mortgage, pledge or other charge, of any of its assets for that purpose; and
(g) protect the assets of the company for the benefit of the company, its creditors and its members and, at the discretion of the directors, for any person having a direct or indirect interest in the company.
(3) Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (2) shall not apply to company limited by guarantee.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (2)(g), the directors may cause the company to transfer any of its assets in trust to one or more trustees, each of which may be an individual, company, association, partnership, foundation or similar entity and, with respect to the transfer, the directors may provide that the company, its creditors, its members or any person having a direct or indirect interest in the company, or any of them, may be the beneficiaries of the trust.
(5) The rights or interests of any existing or subsequent creditor of the company in any assets of the company are not affected by any transfer under subsection (4), and those rights or interests may be pleaded against any transferee in any such transfer.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), no act of a company and no transfer of an asset by or to a company is invalid by reason only of the fact that the company did not have the capacity, right or power to perform the act or to transfer or receive the asset.
(2) The lack or alleged lack of capacity, right or power of a company to perform an act or to transfer or receive an asset may be asserted—
(a) in proceedings by a member or a director against the company to prohibit the performance of any act, or the disposition of property by or to the company; and
(b) in proceedings by the company, whether acting directly or through a liquidator or other legal representative or through members of the company in a representative capacity, against the incumbent or former directors or other officers of the company for loss or damage through their unauthorised act.
(3) This section applies to companies incorporated before, on or after the Act commencement date, but this section does not affect the capacity of a former Act company in relation to anything done by it before this section came info force.
(1) Subject to subsection (2) and except in so far as he may be liable for his own conduct or acts, no director, agent or liquidator of a company is liable for any debt, obligation or default of the company, unless—
(a) it is proved that he acted fraudulently or otherwise in bad faith; or
(b) specifically provided in this Act or in any other written law of Seychelles.
(2) If at any time there is no member of a company, any person doing business in the name of or on behalf of the company is personally liable for the payment of all debts of the company contracted during such time and the person may be sued in respect thereof without joinder in the proceedings of any other person.
(1) 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 assets, rights or interests from the company that—
(a) this Act or the memorandum or articles of the company has not been complied with;
(b) a person named as a director in the company’s register of directors—
(i) is not a director of the company;
(ii) has not been duly appointed as a director of the company; 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;
(c) a person held out by the company as a director, employee or agent of the company—
(i) has not been duly appointed; or
(ii) does not have authority to exercise a power which a director, employee or agent of a company carrying on business of the kind carried on by the company customarily has authority to exercise;
(d) a person held out by the company as a director, employee or agent of the company with authority to exercise a power which a director, employee 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; or
(e) a document issued on behalf of a company by a director, employee or agent of the company with actual or usual authority to issue the document is not valid or not genuine,
unless the person has, or ought to have, by virtue of his relationship to the company, knowledge of the matters referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e).
(2) Subsection (1) applies even though a person of the kind referred to in paragraphs (b) to (e) of that subsection acts fraudulently or forges a document that appears to have been signed on behalf of the company, unless the person dealing with the company or with a person who has acquired assets, rights or interests from the company has actual knowledge of the fraud or forgery.
37. Contracts generally.
(1) A contract may be entered into by a company as follows—
(a) a contract that, if made between individuals, would by law be required to be in writing and made by deed or under seal, is validly entered into by a company as a deed or an instrument under seal if it is either—
(i) sealed with the common seal of the company and witnessed by a director of the company or such other person who is authorised by the memorandum and articles to witness the application of the company’s seal; or
(ii) expressed to be, or is executed on behalf of the company and expressed to be executed as, or otherwise makes clear on its face that it is intended to be, a deed and it is signed by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the company;
(b) a contract that, if made between individuals, would be required by law to be in writing and signed by the parties thereto, may be entered into by or on behalf of the company in writing and signed by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the company; and
(c) a contract that, if made between individuals, would be valid although entered into orally and not reduced to writing, may be entered into orally by or on behalf of the company by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the company.
(2) Any contract made according to this section may be varied or discharged in the same manner as it is authorised by this section to be made.
(3) A contract entered into in accordance with this section is valid and is binding on the company and its successors and all other parties to the contract, their heirs, executors or administrators.
(1) A person who enters into a contract in the name of or on behalf of a company before the company is incorporated, is personally bound by, liable under and entitled to the benefits of the contract, except where—
(b) subject to any provisions of the contract to the contrary, the company ratifies the contract under subsection (2).
(2) A company may, by any action or conduct signifying its intention to be bound by a contract entered into in its name or on its behalf before it was incorporated, ratify the contract after the company’s incorporation.
(3) When a company ratifies a contract under subsection (2)—
(a) the company is bound by, liable under and entitled to the benefits of the contract as if the company had been incorporated at the date of the contract and had been a party to it; and
(b) subject to any provisions of the contract to the contrary, the person who acted in the name of or on behalf of the company ceases to be personally bound by, liable under or entitled to the benefits of the contract.
(1) Subject to its memorandum and articles, a company may by an instrument in writing appoint a person as its attorney either generally or in relation to a specific matter.
(2) An act of an attorney appointed under subsection (1)
in accordance with the instrument under which he was appointed binds the company.
(3) An instrument appointing an attorney under subsection (1) may either be—
(a) executed as a deed; or
(b) signed by a person acting under the express or implied authority of the company.
(2) A company which has a common seal shall have its name in legible characters on that seal.
(3) A company which has a common seal may have duplicate common seals.
A document requiring authentication or attestation by a company may be signed by a director, a secretary or by an authorised agent of the company, and need not be under its common seal.