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Samoa Consolidated Legislation 2020 |
SAMOA
INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ACT 1988
Arrangement of Provisions
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
PART 2
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT
PART 3
CONSTITUTION OF
COMPANIES
Division 1
Incorporation
14A.Long term international companies
15A. Transitional provisions for bearer debentures
18A Liability of members
18B. Companies limited by guarantee and companies limited both by shares and by guarantee
18C. Change of status
18D. Consequential changes
Division 2
Status and Name
20A. Pre-incorporation contracts
29A.Persons having dealings with international companies
Division 3
Limited Life International
Companies
30A. Registration
30B. Issue of Certificate
30C. Memorandum
30D. Powers
30E. Articles of Organisation
30F. Name
30G. Members
30H. Management
30I. Interest in company
30J. Resident Agent
30K. Renewal Fees
30L. Dissolution
30M. Savings
PART 4
SHARES, DEBENTURES AND
CHARGES
Division 1
Shares
39A. Transitional provision
54A. Capital maintenance dividends and other distributions
54B. Debts to be taken into account in determining solvency
Division 2
Debentures
Division 3
Title and Transfers
Division 4
Registration of Charges
74A.Negation of the rule in re Charge Card Services Limited
PART 5
MANAGEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION
Division 1
Office and Name
Division 2
Directors and Officers
89A. Limitation of liability of officers
Division 3
Meetings and Proceedings
Division 4
Register of Members
Division 5
Annual Return
PART 6
ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
Division 1
Accounts
Division 2
Audit
PART 7
ARRANGEMENTS AND
RECONSTRUCTIONS
PART 8
RECEIVERS AND MANAGERS
PART 9
WINDING-UP
Division 1 - Preliminary
Division 2
Compulsory Winding-Up
Division 3
Division 4
Liquidators
Division 5
Dissolution
Division 6
Effect on other Transactions
Division 7
- Offences
Division 8
Defunct Companies
PART 10
FOREIGN COMPANIES
PART 11
MISCELLANEOUS
216A. Documents by electronic transfer
216B. Filed memorandum and articles
216C. Alteration of documents by the Registrar
216D. Retention of records of companies struck off the register
226A. Enforcement of indemnity
227A. Court proceedings relating to confidential information
227B. Procedures for obtaining court orders for the disclosure of confidential information
228A. Form of company registers and records
228B. Asset protection
228C. Certificate of good standing
PART 12
SHARES AND DEBENTURES
Division 1
Interpretation
Division 2
Prospectuses
230-239.Repealed
Division 3
Restrictions on Allotment
240-248. Repealed
PART 13
APPLICATION OF OTHER ACTS
Schedules
Schedule 1 Powers of an international company
Schedule 2 Articles for management of an international company
Schedule 3 Additional powers of a limited life International
Company
INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ACT 1988
1988 No. 10
AN ACT to provide for the incorporation, registration and administration of International and Foreign Companies; and for purposes connected therewith.
[Assent date: 17 February 1988]
[Commencement date: 6 October 2008]
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title – (1) This Act may be cited as the International Companies Act 1988.
(2) This Act comes into force on such date as may be specified by the Head of State by Order.
2. Interpretation – (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:
“allot” includes sell, issue, assign, and convey; and “allotment” has a corresponding meaning;
“articles” means articles of association or in the case of a limited life international company, articles of organisation;
“audit period” means the period in respect of which any profit and loss account of an international company is made up;
“Authority” means the Samoa International Finance Authority established under the Samoa International Finance Authority Act 2005;
“bearer debenture” means any debenture of an international company which is either payable to or enforceable by any person, who for the time being lawfully has possession of that debenture, but does not include a debenture lodged with a trustee company as custodian of the document, pursuant to section 15;
“board” means the board of directors of an international company or a foreign company;
“books” includes accounts, deeds, writings, invoices, records and documents;
“branch register” means a branch register of members of an international company kept under section 111;
“capital surplus” means the entire surplus of an international company other than its earned surplus;
“Central Bank” means the Central Bank of Samoa established pursuant to the Central Bank of Samoa Act 1984;
“certified” means certified in the prescribed manner to be a particular document or to be a true copy of it;
“charge” includes a mortgage and any agreement to give or execute a charge or mortgage whether upon demand or otherwise;
“company” means a body corporate formed or incorporated (other than a domestic company) whether in Samoa or outside Samoa, and includes any foreign company (other than an overseas company registered under the Companies Act 2001) but does not include a corporation sole;
“company limited by shares” means a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them and such members shall be called shareholders;
“company limited by guarantee” means a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum to such amount as the members may respectively thereby undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up; and such members are called guarantee members;
“company limited by both shares and guarantee” means a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum:
(a) in the case of members who have given a guarantee, to such amount as they have respectively undertaken to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of it being wound up; and such members are called guarantee members; or
(b) in the case of members who are shareholders, to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them; and such members are called shareholders;
“contributory” in relation to an international company, means a person liable to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of it being wound up, and includes the holder of fully paid shares in the company and, prior to the final determination of the persons who are contributories, includes any person alleged to be a contributory;
“Court” means Supreme Court of Samoa;
“creditor” means any person capable of enforcing any debt (whether contingent or actual) against the company in Samoa (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, any taxation, fine or penalty imposed by any government or governmental or semi-governmental authority of a government other than Samoa;
“debt” means any actual or contingent debt, but shall exclude any taxation, fine or penalty or any liability under any public law by any foreign government and any other debt or obligation incapable of being enforced in Samoa;
“Deputy Registrar” means a Deputy Registrar of International and Foreign Companies appointed under section 8(1)(b);
“director” means any person occupying the position of director of an international company and any person held out by a company to be a director;
“document” includes summons, order and other legal process and notice and register;
“dollar” or “$” means a dollar unit of the currency of the United States of America;
“domestic company” means a company incorporated under the Companies Act 2001;
“earned surplus” means that portion of the surplus earned by an international company equal to the balance of its net profits, income, gains and losses from the date of incorporation or from the latest date when a deficit distribution to shareholders and transfers made out of earned surplus accounts, and include also any portion of surplus allocated to earned surplus account in mergers, consolidations or acquisitions of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of property or assets of another company, whether incorporated in Samoa or not;
“expert” includes engineer, valuer, accountant, auditor and any other person, whose profession or reputation gives authority to a statement made by him or her;
“foreign company” means:
(a) a corporation, company, society, association or other body incorporated outside Samoa; or
(b) an unincorporated society, association or other body which under the law of its place of origin may sue or be sued or hold property in the name of the secretary or other officer of the body or association duly appointed for that purpose and which does not have its head office or principal place of business in Samoa;
“foreign government” means any government, governmental authority or agency or any semi-governmental authority or agency (other than the Government of Samoa or any governmental authority or agency or any semi-governmental authority or agency of Samoa);
“insolvent” means unable to pay debts as they become due;
“international company” means a company incorporated pursuant to this Act and includes a company deemed to be incorporated under this Act pursuant to section 16;
“issued share capital” in relation to par value shares means, at any particular time, the sum of the par value of all shares of an international company that have been issued;
“limited life international company” means an international company incorporated or registered as a limited life international company pursuant to section 30A;
“lodged” means lodged in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
“long term international company” means an international company which is registered for a period of 5 years or more and has paid the long term registration fee or any renewals of registration;
“long term registration fee” means a long term registration fee referred to in section 14A;
“manager” or “managers” means a person or the persons named or designated as the manager or managers of a limited life international company pursuant to the provisions of the articles of organisation or an operating agreement;
“meeting” has the meaning ascribed to it in section 96(4);
“member”:
(a) in relation to a company, other than a limited life international company, means a person whose name is entered in the company’s Register of Members, whether as a shareholder or a guarantee member, or who is entitled to have his or her name so entered; or
(b) in relation to a limited life international company, means a person whose name is entered as a member in the Register of Members of a limited life international company;
“memorandum” in relation to an international company, means the memorandum of association of that company for the time being in force; and in relation to a foreign company means the charter, statute, memorandum of association or other instrument constituting or defining the constitution of the company;
“Minister” means the Minister for the Ministry of Finance;
“Money Laundering Prevention Authority” means the Money Laundering Prevention Authority appointed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007;
“month” means calendar month;
“officer”, in relation to a company, includes:
(a) any director, secretary or employee of the company; and
(b) a receiver and manager of any part of the undertaking of the company appointed under the power contained in any instrument; and
(c) any liquidator of a company appointed in a voluntary winding-up, but does not include a liquidator appointed in a compulsory winding-up; and
(d) a manager of a limited life international company;
“official liquidator” means a person appointed to be such under section 11;
“operating agreement” means a written agreement of the members as to the affairs of a limited life international company and the conduct of its business;
“ordinary debenture” means any debenture of an international company which is not a bearer debenture;
“period of long term registration” means a period of registration of 5, 10 or 20 years from the date of registration (or any renewal thereof) of an international company as a long term international company, and in the case of first registration (except a first registration occurring on 29 November in any year) includes a fraction of a year to 29 November next following the 5th, 10th, or 20thanniversary (as the case may require) of the date of first registration;
“person” includes a natural person, a corporation sole, a company, a partnership, a statutory body or office, an instrumentality of government, any other public authority, any court or tribunal and any other body of persons whether corporate or incorporate;
“post” includes communications by mail, courier, freight, telex or facsimile;
“prescribed” means prescribed by or under this Act;
“printing” includes typewriting and any duplication of it not less legible and permanent than the original;
“profit and loss account” includes income and expenditure account, revenue account or any other account showing the results of the business of a company for a period;
“promoter” in relation to a prospectus issued by or in connection with an international company means a promoter of the company who was a party to the preparation of the prospectus or of any relevant portion of it, but does not include any person by reason only of his or her acting in a professional or advisory capacity;
“public” includes those persons or classes of persons in Samoa or elsewhere who are for the relevant purposes regarded, in Samoa by the law of Samoa, or elsewhere by the law of the place where they are, as being “public” or “the public”;
“public notice” means a notice published in a newspaper circulating in Samoa, in Samoan and in English, conveying the general effect of a matter or thing done or intended to be done; and “publicly notified” has a corresponding meaning;
“Register of Members”:
(a) for a company, other than a limited life international company, means the Register kept pursuant to section 105;
(b) for a limited life international company, means the register kept by a limited life international company pursuant to section 30(G) in which the names of its members are entered;
“registered company auditor” means a person registered as such under section 10 and, in relation to a foreign company, includes a person qualified to act as the auditor of the company under the laws of the place in which the company is incorporated;
“registered share” means any share issued by an international company standing in the register of members of the company in the name of a member;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of International and Foreign Companies, and includes a Deputy Registrar;
“Regulations” means Regulations made under this Act;
“renewal fee” means an annual renewal fee, as defined in section 14 or in the case of a limited life international company, section 30K, and includes a long term renewal fee referred to in section 14A;
“resident agent” means a trustee company, an officer of a trustee company or a wholly owned subsidiary of a trustee company appointed as such under section 30J;
“resident director” means an officer of a trustee company appointed as such under section 83;
“resident secretary” means a trustee company, any of its wholly owned subsidiary or any officer of a trustee company appointed as such under section 90;
“satisfactory evidence of identity” means such evidence of identity as is required under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007 or any successor legislations and any regulations and guidelines issued pursuant to that Act;
“share” in relation to an international company means a share in the share capital of that company and includes stock;
“share warrant” has the meaning assigned to it by section 36(1);
“surplus” means the excess of the net assets of an international company over its issued capital;
“Table A” means Table A in Schedule 2;
“Table B” means Table B in Schedule 2;
“Table B Debenture” means:
(a) a debenture stated on its face to be a secured debenture issued under this Act prior to the date of commencement of this Act provided that a debenture secured by mortgage or charge and not issued upon terms that the provisions of Table B shall apply (with or without amendments or modifications) shall not be a Table B Debenture for the purposes of this Act; and
(b) a debenture expressed on its face to be a Table B Debenture issued upon terms that the provisions of Table B shall apply with such modifications or amendments as are set out in the terms of issue of any such debenture;
“trustee company” means a company incorporated for the purpose of undertaking or offering to undertake, as a whole or a part of its business, all or any of the duties of a trustee and which is registered under the Trustee Companies Act 2017;
“year” means calendar year.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person including a company is taken to hold a beneficial interest in a share:
(a) if that person, either alone or together with other persons, is entitled (otherwise than as a trustee for, or on behalf of, or on account of, another person) to receive, directly or indirectly, any dividends in respect of the share or to exercise, or to control the exercise of, any rights attaching to the shares; or
(b) if that person, being a company holds any beneficial interest in a share of another company which holds, or a subsidiary of which
holds, any beneficial interest in that first mentioned share.
(3) Whenever in this Act any person holding or occupying particular office or position is mentioned or referred to, such mention or reference
shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be taken to include all persons who shall at any time thereafter occupy for the time
being the office or position.
(4) Any provision of this Act overriding or interpreting a company’s articles shall, except as provided by this Act, apply in relation
to articles in force at the commencement of this Act, as well as to articles coming into force thereafter, and shall apply also in
relation to a company’s memorandum as it applies in relation to its articles.
(5) Where the provisions of this Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any Act, other than the Constitution, the provisions of
this Act prevail.
3. Citation of Reference – Where a provision of this Act refers:
(a) to a part or section by a number but does not identify it as being part of any particular Act, the reference shall be read and construed as a reference to the part or section designated by that number, of or to this Act; or
(b) to a Division, subdivision, paragraph or subparagraph, clause or subclause by a number but does not identify it as being part of any particular Act, the reference shall be read and construed as a reference—
(i) to the Division, designated by that number, of the part in which the reference occurs; or
(ii) to the subsection, designated by that number, of the section in which the reference occurs; or
(iii) to the paragraph, designated by that number, of the section, subsection, Schedule or definition, or of the clause or subclause of or in the Schedule, in which the reference occurs; or
(iv) to the subparagraph, designated by that number, of the paragraph in which the reference occurs; or
(v) to the clause or subclause, designated by that number, of the Schedule in which the reference occurs as the case may require.
4. Related Companies – (1) For the purposes of this Act a company is, subject to subsection (3), taken to be a subsidiary of another company, if:
(a) that other company—
(i) controls the composition of the board of directors of the first-mentioned company; or
(ii) controls more than half of the voting power of the first-mentioned company; or
(iii) holds more than half of the issued shares or share capital of the first-mentioned company (excluding any part thereof which carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits and capital); or
(b) the first-mentioned company is a subsidiary of any company which is that other company’s subsidiary.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the composition of a company’s board of directors is taken to be controlled by another
company if that other company by the exercise of some power exercisable by it, without the consent or concurrency of any other person,
can appoint or remove all or a majority of the directors and, for the purposes of this provision, that other company is taken to
have power to make such an appointment if:
(a) a person cannot be appointed as a director without the exercise in his or her favour by that other company of such a power; or
(b) a person’s appointment as a director follows necessarily from his or her being a director or other officer of that other
company.
(3) In determining whether one company is subsidiary of another company:
(a) any shares held or power exercisable by that other company in a trustee or fiduciary capacity shall be treated as not held or exercisable by it; and
(b) subject to paragraphs (c) and (d), any shares held or power exercisable—
(i) by any person as a nominee for that other company, except where that other company is concerned only in a trustee or fiduciary capacity; shall be treated as held or exercisable by that, other company; or
(ii) by, or by a nominee for a subsidiary of that other company, not being a subsidiary which is concerned only in a trustee or fiduciary capacity shall be treated as held or exercisable by that other company; and
(c) any shares held or power exercisable by any person by virtue of the provisions of any debentures of the first-mentioned company or of a trust deed for securing any issue of such debentures shall be disregarded; and
(d) any shares held or power exercisable by, or by a nominee for, that other company or its subsidiary, not being held or exercisable
as mentioned in paragraph (c) shall be treated as not held or exercisable by that other company if the ordinary business of that
other company or its subsidiary, as the case may be, includes the lending of money and the shares are held or power is exercisable
as aforesaid by way of security only for the purposes of a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of that business.
(4) A reference in this Act to the parent company of a company shall be read as a reference to a company of which the last-mentioned
company is a subsidiary.
(5) Where a company:
(a) is the parent company of another company; or
(b) is a subsidiary of another company; or
(c) is a subsidiary of the parent company of another company, –
that first mentioned company and that other company is, for the purposes of this Act, taken to be related to each other and to be
related to every other company so related to either of them or related directly, or by a series of such relationships, to any other
related company.
5. Application of Act – Unless the context otherwise requires, no provision of this Act applies to a domestic company.
6. Restriction on membership interest in international company – (1) No natural person who is a citizen or resident of or domiciled in Samoa and no company incorporated or registered under the Companies Act 2001 except a trustee company may either individually or with another person or persons and whether directly or indirectly and whether
in consequence of any trust or similar arrangement or otherwise, be or become a shareholder in or guarantee member of an international
company under this Act or foreign company that has the centre of its administrative management in Samoa unless that foreign company
is registered under the Companies Act 2001.
(2) In this section “non-resident” and “residence” have the same meaning as in the International Banking Act 2005.
7. Permitted purposes for incorporation – (1) An international company may be incorporated for any lawful purpose or purposes, and may carry on any business which may lawfully
be carried on by an individual but it shall not carry on the businesses of banking, insurance or acting as a trustee company unless
it is licensed or otherwise permitted so to do under the laws currently in force in Samoa.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an international company is not to be regarded as carrying on business as a trustee company or
carrying on the business of acting as a trustee company, by acting merely as the trustee or one of the trustees of not more than
3 trusts registered under the Trusts Act 2014.
PART 2
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT
8. Registrar of companies – (1) There shall be appointed, by the Authority:
(a) a Registrar of International and Foreign Companies to have the charge and control of the International Companies Office and to carry out the duties and functions vested in him or her by or under this or any other Act and such appointment shall be publicly notified; and
(b) Assistant or Deputy Registrars of International and Foreign Companies and other officers as are required for the purposes of this
Act.
(2) Anything by this Act appointed or authorised or required to be done by the Registrar may be done by any such Assistant or Deputy
Registrar and shall be as valid and effectual as if done by the Registrar subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be set
out in the instrument of appointment or in any subsequent changes thereto.
(3) All Courts, judges, and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the seal and also the signature of the Registrar
and of any Assistant or Deputy Registrar.
(4) For the purposes of ascertaining whether a company is complying with this Act the Registrar or any person authorised by him or her
may inspect any book, minute book, register or record required by or under this Act to be kept by the company.
(5) A person who, except for the purposes of this Act, or except in the course of any criminal proceedings, makes a record of, divulges
or communicates to any other person any information which the person has acquired by reason of an inspection, commits an offence.
(6) A company or any officer thereof shall, on being required by the Registrar, or a person authorised by the Registrar, produce any
such book, register or record.
(7) A company or any officer thereof shall not obstruct or hinder the Registrar or a person so authorised while exercising any of the
powers referred to in subsection (4).
(8) There shall be paid to the Registrar fees as are prescribed.
9. Lodging Documents – (1) Except as provided to the contrary in this Act, every document required or permitted to be lodged or filed with the Registrar under
the provisions of this Act shall be lodged or filed through a trustee company.
(2) Except as provided to the contrary in this Act, an application to the Registrar for any certificate issued under the Act or for any
extract or copy of any document filed with the Registrar shall be made through a trustee company.
10. Registered company auditors – (1) The Registrar may, by public notice appoint any person or company to be a registered company auditor.
(2) No person or company shall perform the duties of auditor of a company unless the person or company is a registered company auditor.
(3) The Registrar may revoke any appointment made under subsection (1).
(4) The Registrar shall keep a register of registered company auditors.
(5) The Registrar may prescribe and publicly notify annual fees for registration as a registered company auditor.
(6) A person shall not knowingly consent to be appointed, and shall not knowingly act, as auditor for any international company or foreign
company under this Act and shall not prepare for or on behalf of a company any report required by this Act to be prepared by a registered
company auditor:
(a) if the person is not, at the time of the person’s so acting or preparing such report, a registered company auditor; or
(b) if the person, or any company related to the person is indebted to the company or a related company in an amount exceeding $5000 or an equivalent amount in any other currency; or
(c) if the person, or any company related to the person is an officer of the company; or
(d) if the person or any company related to the person is—
(i) a partner, employer or employee of the company; or
(ii) a partner or employer or employee of an officer of the company; or
(e) if the person is –
(i) a spouse of an officer of the company; or
(ii) a spouse of an employee of an officer of the company.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), a person is taken to be an officer of an international or foreign company if the person is an
officer of a company that is taken to be related to the company by virtue of section 4(5) or the person has, at any time within the
proceeding period of 12 months, been an officer or promoter of the company or of such other company.
(8) For the purposes of this section, a person is taken not to be an officer by reason only of the person having been appointed as auditor
of an international or foreign company.
(9) No person shall appoint a person as auditor of an international or foreign company unless the person to be appointed auditor has
prior to such appointment consented in writing to act as such auditor.
(10) Repealed by s5 of Act 1991, No.10
11. Official liquidator – (1) For the purposes of proceedings in winding-up international companies the Registrar may, by public notice appoint any person to be
an official liquidator.
(2) The Registrar may revoke any appointment made under subsection (1).
(3) No person shall be appointed or act as liquidator of an international company:
(a) if the person is not an official liquidator; or
(b) if the person, or any company related to the person is indebted to the company in liquidation or to a company which is taken to be related to that company in liquidation by virtue of section 4(5) in an amount exceeding $1,000 or an equivalent amount in any other currency; and
(c) unless the person consents.
(4) The Registrar shall keep a register of official liquidators.
(5) Where an official liquidator is appointed to be a liquidator of an international company, whether by the Court or in a voluntary
winding-up, the liquidator shall forthwith notify the Registrar in writing of any interest which he or she, or any company related
to the liquidator has in the company, as an officer, employer or employee of the company or as a partner employer or employee of
an officer of the company.
(6) The Registrar may prescribe and publicly notify annual fees for registration as an official liquidator.
12. Registers – (1) The Registrar may, subject to this Act and regulations, keep such registers as he or she considers necessary and in such form as
he or she thinks fit.
(2) An officer, member, debenture holder, director or liquidator or an international or foreign company, or any other person with the
written permission of such officer, member, debenture holder, director or liquidator or who can demonstrate to the Registrar that
he or she has a good reason for doing so, may, subject to this Act and on payment of the prescribed fee:
(a) inspect any document filed by the Registrar in respect of the company; or
(b) require any certificate issued under this Act or a copy or extract from any document kept by the Registrar in respect of the company to be given or certified by the Registrar, –
but save as aforesaid no document filed by the Registrar in respect of a company shall be available for inspection or copying.
(2A) Despite subsection (2), except in any case where:
(a) the prior written consent of the international company or the trustee company acting for the international company is given; or
(b) copies of the memorandum and articles of the company are made available for inspection or copying pursuant to section 28 (1A),
–
the Registrar shall not allow any person to inspect any document or provide any person with a copy or extract of any document, unless
the Registrar has given reasonable notice to the international company of the Registrar’s intention to do so, such notice to
include details of the relevant documents and the persons who will inspect or be provided with a copy of such documents.
(3) A copy of or extract from any document filed by the Registrar certified to be a true copy or extract under the hand and seal of the
Registrar shall in any proceedings be admissible in evidence as if it were the original document or the part thereof so extracted.
(4) In any legal proceedings a certificate under the hand and seal of the Registrar that a requirement of this Act specified in the certificate:
(a) had or had not been complied with at a date or within a period specified in the certificate; or
(b) had been complied with upon a date specified in the certificate but not before that date, –
shall be received as prima facie evidence of the matter specified in the certificate.
(5) If the Registrar is of the opinion that a document lodged with him or her:
(a) contains matter contrary to law; or
(b) by reason of any omission or misdescription has not been duly completed; or
(c) does not comply with the requirements of this Act; or
(d) contains any error, alteration or erasure; or
(e) has not been submitted through a trustee company, –
the Registrar may refuse to register the document and request that the document be appropriately amended or completed and re-lodged
or that a fresh document be lodged in its place.
(6) If an international or foreign company or person, having been in default in complying with:
(a) any provision of this Act or of any other law which requires the lodging in any manner with the Registrar of any return, account or other document or the giving of notice to him or her on any matter; or
(b) any request of the Registrar to amend or complete and re-lodge any document or lodge a fresh document, fails to make good the
default within 60 days after the service on the company or person of a notice requiring it to be done, –
the Registrar may order the company and any officer thereof or such person to make good the default within such time as is specified
in the order.
(7) Nothing in this section prejudices the operation of any enactment or other section of this Act imposing penalties on a company or
a company’s officers or such person in respect of any such default under subsection (6).
PART 3
CONSTITUTION OF COMPANIES
Division 1
Incorporation
13. Formation of companies – (1) Subject to this Act, a trustee company or any other person or persons may, by subscribing of their name to a memorandum and complying
with the requirements as to registration, form an international company for any lawful purpose.
(2) If a subscriber to a memorandum is a company or a trustee company, the memorandum may be subscribed by the company or the trustee
company, as the case may be, under its seal or by some person duly authorised on its behalf.
(3) An international company, other than a limited life international company, incorporated under this Act, shall be:
(a) a company limited by shares; or
(b) a company limited by guarantee; or
(c) a company limited by both shares and guarantee.
(4) A limited life international company incorporated under this Act shall be a company limited by shares.
14. Registration and incorporation – (1) Subject to subsections (10) to (20), a person desiring the incorporation of an international company shall cause to be lodged with
the Registrar the memorandum and articles of the proposed company together with true copies thereof and the other documents required
to be lodged by or under this Act, and the Registrar shall upon payment of the prescribed fees and subject to this Act, register
the company by filing the memorandum and articles.
(2) The Registrar may require the trustee company lodging the document referred to in subsection (1) to lodge with those documents a
certificate by the trustee company stating that, to the best of the trustee company’s knowledge, all or any of the requirements
of this Act have been complied with and the Registrar may accept that certificate as sufficient evidence of such compliance.
(3) On the filing of the memorandum the Registrar may certify under his or her hand and seal that the company is, on and from the date
specified in the certificate, incorporated and if he or she so certifies he or she shall deliver his or her certificate to the trustee
company which lodged the documents or as the trustee company directs in writing.
(4) An international company to which section 14A does not apply, and which on 31 January 1993 held a valid certificate of incorporation
or registration (or a valid renewal certificate thereof) is, despite any law in effect at the time of the issue of the certificate,
liable to pay to the Registrar an annual renewal fee on 30 November 1993, and thereafter is liable to pay to the Registrar on 30
November of each following year, such annual renewal fee as may be prescribed.
(5) Except where the provisions of section 14A apply, an international company incorporated or registered on or after 1 February 1993
is liable to pay to the Registrar on 30 November of each year following the year in which it is incorporated or registered, an annual
renewal fee as substituted by the Offshore Centre Legislation Amendment Act 1993.
(6) Until such time as an international company is dissolved pursuant to the provisions of this Act, the international company shall
continue its corporate existence (without rendering defective any legal or other proceedings instituted by or against the company
or affecting any rights, powers, authorities, duties, functions, liabilities or obligations of the company or any person) despite
that an annual renewal fee which is due and payable by the international company has not been paid.
(7) On and from the date of incorporation specified in the certificate of incorporation of an international company, but subject to this
Act, the subscriber or subscribers to the memorandum, while he or she remains a member or they remain members, as the case may be,
together with such other persons as may from time to time become members of the company, shall be a body corporate by the name contained
in the memorandum, capable forthwith of exercising all the functions of an international company and of suing and being sued and
having perpetual succession and a corporate seal but with such liability on the part of the members to contribute to the assets of
the company in the event of it being wound up as is provided by this Act.
(8) A certificate of incorporation under the hand and seal of the Registrar shall be conclusive evidence that all the requirements of
this Act in respect of incorporation and of matters precedent and incidental thereto have been complied with and that the international
company referred to therein was duly incorporated under this Act.
(9) Except where an international company is incorporated by a trustee company pursuant to a direction under subsection (10), a subscriber
to the memorandum shall, upon its incorporation, be a member of the international company and on the incorporation of the company:
(a) if the articles so permit and the subscriber so desires and has paid up in full the nominal value of his or her shares, be issued with a share certificate or certificates for the shares agreed to be taken by him or her in the memorandum and the appropriate entry shall be made in the company’s register of members; or
(b) in any other case, without formal allotment of shares, he or she shall be entered as a member in its register of members in respect
of the share or shares subscribed for or by him or her in the memorandum.
(10) A person desiring the incorporation of an international company may, if the person so desires, cause to be delivered to a trustee
company a memorandum of the proposed company together with a true copy of thereof and:
(a) a request addressed to the trustee company, in writing and signed by him or her that—
(i) the trustee company incorporate an international company on his or her behalf; and
(ii) no share or share certificates be issued to him or her; and
(iii) he or she not be a member of the international company so incorporated; and
(iv) one share be issued on incorporation to the trustee company;
(b) an amount sufficient to pay—
(i) the fees payable on lodgement of the documents to be lodged for incorporation of the company; and
(ii) the fees payable to the trustee company in respect of its services in and about the incorporation of the company and the issue of the share to be issued pursuant to the request in paragraph (a); and
(c) the name or names of a person or persons nominated for the purposes of section 15; and
(d) if applicable, the form of articles of association provided for under subsection (18).
(11) A trustee company, if it sees fit, upon receipt of the documents and payments referred to in subsection (10):
(a) may seal the memorandum for the incorporation of the international company; and
(b) shall cause the memorandum to be lodged with the Registrar together with the prescribed fees therefor; and
(c) at the same time, shall send an appointment in writing in the form required by Table A and effective for the purpose of appointing
as the only director of the company a resident director from the trustee company.
(12) Upon the incorporation of the international company pursuant to a request of the kind referred to in subsection (10)(a)(iv), the
trustee company which incorporated the company shall be the only member of the company and, without any formal allotment of its share,
that trustee company shall be entered as a member in the register of members of the company in respect of the share, referred to
in subsection (10)(a)(iv) and such share shall be issued to the trustee company and deemed to be fully paid up.
(13) Subject to section 15(6), where a share is issued to a trustee company under this section, such share shall, despite any provision
of the articles, be forfeited to the international company at the expiration of 3 months from the date of its incorporation and the
company shall cause an entry to that effect to be made in its register of members and the certificate of such share shall be delivered
up to the company and cancelled.
(14) Where a request of the kind referred to in subsection (10)(a) has been made to a trustee company, the person making the request shall
not have any right to have an international company incorporated or to have any shares or debentures issued and it shall be in the
absolute discretion of the trustee company whether upon receiving that request it acts in accordance with subsection (11), or not:
PROVIDED THAT if it does not act in accordance with the request that trustee company shall, after deducting such costs, charges and expenses as
in its discretion are properly attributable to its consideration of that request, repay the balance to the person making the request
or as he or she directs.
(15) The Registrar (subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the Court) shall be the only person entitled to enforce the performance
of the obligations of a trustee company under this section and section 15.
(16) A request referred to in subsection (10)(a) and any variation of that request made under this subsection may be revoked or varied
only by the Registrar and then only with consent of the persons who made the request or such person as they nominate for the purpose
of that request.
(17) Subject to section 15, where a request of the kind referred to in subsection (10)(a) is made to a trustee company for the incorporation
of an international company, no contract, agreement or arrangement in respect of that company shall arise, or is taken to have arisen,
between the person making the request and the trustee company notwithstanding that the trustee company may incorporate that company
or make any repayment of the money received from that person, nor shall the trustee company be, or is taken to be the agent of that
person, in respect of anything done by it as a consequence of the request.
(18) Where a request of the kind referred to in subsection (10)(a) is made in respect of an international company, no articles other than
the articles as set out in Table A of Schedule 2 shall be adopted as the articles of the company until after the expiration of 3
months from the date of the company’s incorporation; provided that, where by any such request the trustee company incorporating
a company is specifically requested:
(a) to file articles with the memorandum; or
(b) to cause the company to adopt new articles before the expiration of 3 months from the date of its incorporation, –
such articles being additional or in substitution for all or any of the articles as set out in the Table A, the trustee company, if
it thinks fit, despite this subsection, may lodge those articles with the Registrar at the same time as it lodges the memorandum
or at any time within 3 months of the incorporation of the company and those articles, upon the filing thereof and until altered
in any manner provided for in this Act, shall be the articles of the company.
(19) After incorporation any person who agrees to become a member of an international company and whose name is entered into its Register
of Members or who becomes the bearer of a share certificate issued to bearer or bearer share shall be a member of the company.
(20) Regulations may be made prescribing the form of documents to be used pursuant to this section.
14A. Long term international companies – (1) An international company may elect to be registered and remain as a long term international company by paying to the Registrar such
long term registration and long term renewal fees as may be prescribed.
(2) A long term registration of an international company may be affected or renewed for a period of long term registration on payment
of such prescribed renewal fee as may be applicable.
(3) A long term international company may upon the expiry of any period of long term registration, elect to continue its registration
on an annual basis pursuant to section 14.
(4) If upon the day after the expiry of its period of long term registration an international company fails or has failed to pay a renewal
fee, it is liable to pay by way of penalty such additional fee or fees as may be prescribed.
15. Issue of bearer debentures – (1) Unless a person desiring the incorporation of an international company under section 14(10) delivers to the trustee company, together with the unsigned memorandum, a written request that a debenture should not be issued, the international company shall:
(a) as soon as it is convenient after incorporation, prepare a form of bearer debenture which shall incorporate the provisions set forth in Table B; and
(b) cause the debenture to be signed by the resident director, which form of bearer debenture shall be expressed to secure to the bearer a sum equal to the fees paid to the trustee company under section 14(10)(b)(ii), expressed in dollars; and
(c) enter it in the records of the international company, –
and thereupon the company is taken to have resolved to issue the debenture and the same shall thereupon be a specialty debt due from
the company, and shall thereupon post or deliver the form of bearer debenture, with a form of receipt attached, to the person who
signed the request referred to in section 14(10) or as the person directs.
(2) Despite anything to the contrary in this Act, all bearer debentures issued by an international company shall be physically lodged
with the trustee company whose office provides the registered office for the company. The trustee company shall hold the bearer debenture
as custodian only of the documents for the beneficial owner.
(3) The trustee company shall not release the bearer debenture to the beneficial owner thereof or part with the physical possession of
the document, unless the debenture is to be cancelled by the international company or converted to an ordinary debenture or to registered
shares.
(3A) Where an international company deals with bearer debentures contrary to subsection (3), the company and an officer of the company
who is responsible for the contravention commit an offence.
(3B) The beneficial owner of a bearer debenture shall not transfer, dispose of, or otherwise deal with their interest in the debenture
without the approval of the trustee company, in accordance with subsection (3C) and any transfer, disposition or other transaction
involving the beneficial interest in the debenture shall be of no legal effect until the trustee company has granted its approval.
(3C) Where the beneficial owner of a bearer debenture requests that:
(a) the bearer debenture be redeemed or converted to an ordinary debenture; or
(b) the beneficial ownership thereof be transferred or otherwise dealt with, –
any request shall only be approved by the trustee company holding the bearer debenture upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of the
identity of the person making the request and of any other person who, as a result of the request, will be paid the redemption proceeds
or will become an ordinary debenture holder or become the holder of a beneficial interest in the bearer debenture.
(3D) If default is made by an international company or a trustee company in complying with subsection (2), (3) or (3C), the company and
an officer of the company who is knowingly in default commit an offence.
(4) If a trustee company appoints as the director of an international company a resident director pursuant to section 14(11), that director
may not be removed nor shall any additional director or directors be appointed until such time as the share referred to in section
14(10)(a) has been issued to the trustee company and the debenture, if any, to be issued pursuant to subsection (1), has been issued.
(5) Despite subsection (4) and anything contained in the articles of an international company, until the share referred to in section
14(10)(a) has been issued to the trustee company to which the request for incorporation was made under that section and the debenture,
if any, to be issued pursuant to subsection (1), has been issued, that trustee company may appoint another officer of the trustee
company as a director in substitution for the officer so appointed and may remove any officer appointed as a director of the company.
(6) In the event of a form of bearer debenture of the kind referred to in subsection (1) not having been issued, by the expiration of
3 months from the date of incorporation of the company by the trustee company to which the request for such incorporation was made,
the share issued to the trustee company under section 14 and any income, rights and accruals thereto shall, from that time on, be
held by that trustee company upon trust for the person or persons, if any, nominated under section 14(10) or, if there is no such
nomination, for the person who made the request referred to in section 14(10) and the trustee company is entitled to be indemnified
out of the assets of the company for its reasonable costs and expenses in administering the trusts upon which that share is held
and in making payment of such fees and charges payable by the company as it sees fit to make on behalf of the company.
(7) If a person nominated under section 14(10) has died before the expiration of 3 months from the date of incorporation of an international
company by the trustee company to which the request for such incorporation was made, then, unless his or her nomination was made
conditional upon his or her being alive at that time, the shares issued to the trustee company under section 14 and any income, rights
and accruals thereto, from that time on, shall be held by that trustee company upon trust for the executor of his or her will or
the administrator of his or her estate, as the case may be.
(8) If a person nominated under section 14(10) has died before the expiration of 3 months from the date of incorporation of an international
company by the trustee company to which the request for such incorporation was made, and the nomination was made conditional upon
his or her being alive at the time of such issue, then, unless any other person has been nominated to be the beneficiary in his or
her place in the event of his or her not being alive, the share issued to the trustee company under section 14 and any income, rights
and accruals thereto, from that time on, shall be held by the trustee company upon trust for the person who made the nomination or,
if that person has died before that time, for the executor of his will or the administrator of his or her estate, as the case may
be.
(9) If no nomination under section 14(10) has been made, and the person who made the request for the incorporation of an international
company referred to in section 14(10)(a) has died before the expiration of 3 months from the date of incorporation of the company
by the trustee company to which that request for incorporation was made, the share issued to the trustee company under section 14
and any income, rights and accruals thereto from that time on, shall be held by the trustee company upon trust for the executor of
the will of that person or for the administrator of his or her estate, as the case may be.
15A. Transitional provisions for bearer debentures – (1) An international company that has issued bearer debentures prior to the commencement date of the International Companies Amendment Act 2008, shall within 6 months from that date, hereinafter referred to as the “transitional period”, cause the bearer debentures
to be lodged with the trustee company whose office provides the registered office for the international company.
(2) An international company may apply in writing to the Registrar for an extension of the transitional period, and such application
shall be accompanied by:
(a) a statement of the reasons for the extension of application;
(b) the prescribed fee; and
(c) such other information as the Registrar considers necessary, –
and the Registrar may extend the transitional period by a further
period of 6 months.
(3) If a bearer debenture has not been so lodged with the trustee company, within the transitional period or any extension of that period
granted under subsection (2), all rights, powers and privileges exercisable by the beneficial owner of that bearer debenture and
all benefits derived from that debenture, shall thereafter be suspended and be of no legal effect, unless the bearer debenture is
so lodged, hereinafter referred to as the “suspension period”. In the event that at a later time the rights, powers and
privileges attaching to the bearer debenture are no longer suspended, the validity of any action of the international company during
the suspension period shall not be affected and no adjustments or compensation shall be made or payable in respect of any sum or
benefit that would otherwise have accrued in respect of the bearer debenture during the suspension period.
(4) During the suspension period, the Court may on the application of any director, liquidator, officer or member of the international
company, order on such terms as it sees fit, that a trustee company be appointed to exercise such rights, powers and privileges as
the Court may specify, as would be exercisable if the trustee company were the holder of the bearer debenture. The Court may further
order that the trustee company shall hold any property payable to the holder of the bearer debenture on such trusts as the Court
may direct:
PROVIDED THAT no property held pursuant to any such trust shall be distributed, until such time as the bearer debenture has been lodged with a trustee
company pursuant to subsection (1) and that trustee company has obtained satisfactory evidence of the identity of the beneficial
owner of the bearer debenture.
16. Transfer to Samoa of company incorporated outside Samoa – (1) A company incorporated as a company or corporation under the laws of any country other than Samoa, or of any jurisdiction within that
country, may, if not prohibited under the laws of that other jurisdiction, apply to the Registrar to be registered as being continued
in Samoa as if it had been incorporated under this Act.
(2) Upon application under subsection (1), supported by such material as the Registrar considers adequate and satisfactory, the Registrar,
subject to section 225 and the payment of any prescribed fee, may register the company as being so continued and, if so registered,
the company shall be deemed thereafter to be an international company under this Act and domiciled in Samoa:
PROVIDED THAT no company may be registered under this section if:
(a) its winding-up has commenced; or
(b) a receiver of its property has been appointed; or
(c) there is any scheme or order in force in relation thereto whereby the rights of creditors are suspended or restricted.
(3) The registration of a company under this section shall not operate:
(a) to create a new legal entity; or
(b) to prejudice or affect the continuity of the company; or
(c) to affect the property of the company; or
(d) to render defective any legal or other proceedings instituted, or to be instituted, by or against the company or any other person; or
(e) to affect any rights, powers, authorities, duties, functions, liabilities or obligations of the company or any other person.
(4) Upon the registration of a company under this section:
(a) so much of its constitution as would, if it had been incorporated under this Act, have been required by this Act to be included in its memorandum of association, is taken to be the memorandum of association of the company; and
(b) so much of its constitution as does not, by virtue of paragraph (a), comprise its memorandum of association, is taken to be the
articles of association of the company and shall be binding on the company and its members accordingly.
(5) A company registered under subsection (1) shall pay the prescribed fee.
17. Prior approval for transfer to Samoa of a company incorporated outside Samoa – (1) A company incorporated as a company or corporation under the laws of any country other than Samoa or of any jurisdiction within such
a country, may prior to applying for registration under section 16, request that such registration be approved in principle and upon
such request and payment of the prescribed fee, the Registrar may if he or she is satisfied that the company or corporation is eligible
for registration under section 16, issue a certificate confirming his or her approval to the company being so registered within a
period of 12 months from the date of the certificate.
(2) The certificate of approval given by the Registrar under subsection (1) shall not relieve the company to whom it is issued from complying
with section 16 on a subsequent application for registration.
18. Requirements as to memorandum – (1) The memorandum of every international company, other than a limited life international company (to which section 30C shall apply in this regard) shall be printed and divided into numbered paragraphs and dated and shall state the following:
(a) the name of the company;
(b) whether the company is a company limited by shares, a company limited by guarantee or a company limited by both hares and guarantee;
(c) the full name of the subscriber or subscribers to the memorandum;
(d) that the subscriber or subscribers to the memorandum desire the formation of an international company;
(e) in relation to a company limited by guarantee or a company limited by both shares and guarantee, that each guarantee member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up while he is a member such amount as may be required, not exceeding the amount specified in the memorandum, for the payment of the company’s debts and liabilities contracted before he ceased to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for any adjustment of the rights of contributories as between themselves;
(f) that the subscriber or subscribers to the memorandum desire the formation of an international company and that on incorporation
of a company limited by shares or limited by both shares and guarantee, shares of the number and class in the capital of the company
set out are to be issued to the subscriber or the respective subscribers.
(2) The memorandum of an international company may, in addition to the requirements of subsection (1), also state the objects of the
company.
18A. Liability of members – (1) An international company is a legal entity, considered in law a fictitious person, distinct from its members and with separate rights
and liabilities. Save as may be specified by this Act or by contract, the members of an international company do not owe any duty,
liability or obligation to the international company, any other member of the international company, any creditor of the international
company or any other company related to the international company.
(2) For a company limited by shares or by guarantee or both by shares and by guarantee, a member is liable to the international company:
(a) for members who have given a guarantee, only to the extent to which that member has undertaken to contribute from time to time and in the event of its being wound up; and
(b) for members who are shareholders, only to the extent of any amount unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
18B. Companies limited by guarantee and companies limited both by shares and by guarantee – (1) Despite any rule of common law or equity dealing with the nature of guarantees, where an international company:
(a) is a company limited by guarantee; or
(b) is a company limited both by shares and by guarantee, –
a guarantee given by a member is taken to be a proprietary interest in the international company and also of being freely transferred,
assigned, charged or otherwise disposed of or dealt with to or in favour of any person in the manner prescribed in the articles of
the international company; and such transfer, assignment, charge or other disposition or dealing does not affect the validity of
the guarantee, but shall transfer both the membership interest and the guarantee obligation to that other person.
(2) In the case of a transfer or other absolute disposition of such a guarantee as referred to in subsection (1), the transferor shall
no longer be a member of the international company.
(3) The transfer of a guarantee is effected by notice in writing to the international company.
(4) In the case of a company limited both by shares and by guarantee, nothing in this Act shall require a shareholder to also be a guarantee
member of that international company or vice versa.
(5) Subject to the articles and any contract to the contrary, a guarantee member may surrender his or her guarantee to an international
company and following any such surrender made in writing, his or her liability shall cease absolutely after the date of such surrender.
18C. Change of status – (1) An international company, other than a limited life international company, incorporated or continued under this Act may, unless its memorandum otherwise provides:
(a) change its status from any of the types of companies specified in section 13(3)(a) to (c) to any other type of company specified therein in accordance with this section; and
(b) such change may be effected despite that at some earlier time the company has been any other or the same type of company as contemplated
by that section.
(2) An international company may change its status only if all of the following requirements are complied with –
(a) the proposed change is specifically authorised by a special resolution of the members of the international company and is given effect to, as contemplated by subsection (3), within 6months from the date of such resolution; and
(b) the directors make a statutory declaration which is lodged with the Registrar that—
(i) the change of status will, in their honest belief, not result in the international company thereby being incapable of meeting its obligations to its creditors as they fall due; and
(ii) the international company has complied with all the provisions of this Act (including the payment of any fees due to the Registrar); and
(iii) the memorandum and articles will be duly amended within at least 3days to reflect the change of status; and
(c) payment of the prescribed fee.
(3) The change of status of an international company takes effect on the day on which it files a copy of the amended memorandum and articles
with the Registrar.
(4) Where:
(a) a member of an international company did not vote in favour of the members’ special resolution to change the status of the international company; and
(b) the change of status may have the effect of increasing the liability of that member, –
then except in so far as that change was made in accordance with the rights of that member as were specified in the articles of the
international company at the time that person became a member, that member may either—
(i) at any time within 60 days of the passing of the resolution, forfeit his or her membership interest to the international company, whereupon his or her liability shall be immediately and absolutely determined; or
(ii) lodge an application with the Registrar to have the change of status cancelled, and if any such application is made the change
of status shall not have effect until confirmed by the Registrar and section 55(2), (3), (4) and (5) applies with necessary adaptation
where any such application is made.
(5) A member who has forfeited the membership interest under subsection (4)(i) shall receive from the international company such amount
as may be specified in the articles or as may be agreed or, failing that such amount as may be determined by the Registrar (or a
chartered accountant approved by the Registrar, whose costs are to be paid by the international company) as representing that member’s
proportional interest in the realisable net tangible assets of the international company; except that any such amount shall be paid
only to the extent to which the international company would not otherwise be rendered insolvent.
(6) A certificate of change of status issued by the Registrar, is conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this Act with respect
to the change of status have been complied with and that the international company is henceforth of the type stated in that certificate,
being a company validly incorporated pursuant to this Act.
(7) A change in status of an international company pursuant to this section shall not operate to –
(a) create a new legal entity; or
(b) prejudice or affect the identity of the body corporate, or its continuity; or
(c) affect the property or rights or obligations of the international company; or
(d) render defective any legal proceedings whatsoever.
18D. Consequential changes – Any provisions of this Act referring or otherwise relating to shares, share certificates or share capital (whether in respect of their value, terms of payment, issue or allotment, amount or otherwise) shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, apply in respect of a company limited by guarantee or a company limited by both shares and guarantee, subject to such modifications as may be necessary by reason of the fact that such a company may or may not have a share capital.
19. Alteration of memorandum – (1) Subject to any limitation in its memorandum an international company may alter any of the objects or powers set out in the memorandum
by a special resolution of the members or, where permitted by its memorandum, by a resolution of the directors.
(2) An international company that alters its memorandum shall, within 21 days of the resolution having been passed, submit a copy of
the alteration and the resolution authorising such alteration to the Registrar and the Registrar shall retain and register the copy
of the alteration and the resolution.
(3) Despite any failure to submit the resolution to the Registrar, the resolution is effective from the date of its passing.
(4) An officer of the international company who knowingly permits a contravention of the provisions of this section commits an offence.
Division 2
20. Powers of companies – (1) An international company shall, unless expressly excluded or modified by the memorandum or the articles, have all of the powers of
a natural person including the powers set forth in Schedule 1 and such other powers as are set out in its memorandum or articles
and this Act.
(2) The powers of an international company shall subject to the terms of the memorandum and articles be exercisable in Samoa and elsewhere.
(3) Where the exercise by the directors of any power of the company:
(a) does not advance the business of the company; or
(b) is not in the best or commercial interest of the company; or
(c) advances or assists the business of some other person at the expense or to the detriment of the company, –
such exercise shall be a valid act on behalf of the company if the directors honestly believe that the exercise of such power will
not result in the company thereby being incapable of meeting its obligations to its creditors as they fall due, within the meaning
of section 54B.
(4) Nothing in this section requires an international company to list any of its powers in its memorandum or articles.
20A. Pre-incorporation contracts – (1) This section applies to:
(a) any contract purporting to be made by an international company before its incorporation; and
(b) any contract made by a person on behalf of an international company before and in contemplation of its incorporation.
(2) Despite any rule of law or equity, any contract to which this section applies, may be ratified:
(a) within such period as may be specified in the contract; or
(b) if no period is specified, within a reasonable time after the incorporation of the company in the name of which, or on behalf
of which, it has been made, –
and the ratified contract is, upon ratification, valid and enforceable as if the company had been a party to the contract when it
was made.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a contract to which this section applies may be ratified by a company in the same manner as a contract
may be made by a company under section 29, and section 29 has effect as if references in that section to making a contract were references
to ratifying a contract.
(4) Despite any rule of law or equity, in any contract to which this section applies, unless a contrary intention is expressed in the
contract, there is an implied warranty by the person who purports to make the contract in the name of, or on behalf of, the company:
(a) that the company will be incorporated within such period as may be specified in the contract, or if no period is specified, then within a reasonable time after the making of the contract; and
(b) that the company will ratify the contract within such period as may be specified in the contract, or if no period is specified,
then within a reasonable time after the incorporation of the company.
(5) The amount of any damages recoverable in an action for breach of warranty implied in any such contract shall be the same as the amount
of damages that would be recoverable in an action against the company for damages for breach by the company of their unperformed
obligations under the contract as if the contract had been ratified and cancelled.
(6) If a company after its incorporation does not ratify a contract to which this section applies, a party to that contract may apply
to the Court:
(a) for an order directing the company to return any property, whether real or personal, acquired pursuant to the contract to that party; or
(b) for any other relief in favour of that party respecting any such property, –
and the Court may, if it considers it just and equitable to do so, make any order or grant such relief as it thinks fit and whether
or not an order has been made under subsection (5).
(7) In any proceedings against a company for breach of a contract to which this section applies and which has been ratified by the company,
the Court may, on the application of the company, any other party to the proceedings, or of its own motion, make such order for the
payment of damages or other relief, in addition to or in substitution for any order which may be made against the company, against
any person by whom that contract was made in the name of, or on behalf of the company, as the Court considers just and equitable.
(8) If a company, after its incorporation and with consent of all other parties to the contract, ratifies a contract to which this section
applies the liability of the person who purports to make the contract in the name of, or on behalf of, the company in respect of
the contract (including any liability under an order made by the Court thereunder for the payment of damages) shall be discharged.
(9) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a contract to which this section applies entered into before the commencement of this section.
(10) In this section, “contract” means any legally binding transaction.
21. Ultra vires transactions – (1) No act of an international company including the entering into of an agreement by the company, and no conveyance or transfer of property
whether real or personal to or by an international company shall be invalid by reason only of the fact that the company was without
capacity or power to do such act or to execute or take such conveyance or transfer.
(2) The lack of capacity or power may be asserted or relied upon only in:
(a) proceedings against the international company by any member of the company or, where the company has issued debentures secured by a floating charge over all or any of company’s property, by the holder of any of those debentures, or by a trustee company acting as trustee for the holders of those debentures, to restrain the doing of any act or acts or the conveyance or transfer of any property to or by the company; or
(b) any proceedings by the company or by any member of the company against the present or former officers of the company.
(3) If the unauthorised act, conveyance or transfer sought to be restrained in any proceedings under subsection (2)(a) is being or is
to be performed or made pursuant to any contract to which the international company is a party, the Court may;
(a) if all the parties to the contract are parties to the proceedings and if the Court deems it to be just and equitable, set aside and restrain the performance of the contract; and
(a) allow to the company or to the other parties to the contract, as the case requires, compensation for the loss or damage sustained by either of them which may result from the setting aside and restraining of the performance of the contract but anticipated profits to be derived from the performance of the contract shall not be awarded by the Court as a loss or damage sustained.
22. Names of companies – (1) Except with the consent of the Authority, an international company shall not be registered by a name that, in the opinion of the
Registrar, is undesirable or is a name, or includes a name, of a kind that the Registrar is not otherwise willing to accept for registration.
(2) Subject to subsection (2A), an international company shall have as part of and at the end of its name either:
(a) the word “Corporation” or the abbreviation “Corp”; or
(b) the word “Incorporated” or the abbreviation “Inc”; or
(c) the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Ltd”; or
(d) the word “Berhad” or the abbreviation “Bhd”; or
(e) the words “Gesellschaftmitbeschrankter Haftung” or the abbreviation “GmbH”; or
(f) the words “Public Limited Company” or the abbreviation “P.L.C.”; or
(g) the words “Societe Anonyme” or “Sociedad Anonima”, or the abbreviation “S.A.”; or
(h) the words “Naamloze Vennootschap” or the abbreviation “N.V.”; or
(i) the words “Besloten Vennootschap” or the abbreviation “B.V.”; or
(j) the word “Aktiengesellschaft” or the abbreviation “A.G.”.
(2A) Despite subsection (2), an international company may, instead of any of the words or abbreviations in subsection (2), have as part
of its name any other words or popular abbreviations of those words in any language being any words or abbreviations which a trustee
company can satisfy the Registrar connotes the existence of a body corporate as distinct from any other person or entity and such
words or abbreviation may appear at the beginning, the end or elsewhere in the name of the international company in accordance with
common practice.
(2B) A person or entity which carries on business under any name or title being any word or abbreviation referred to in subsections (2)
or (2A) unless it is an international company incorporated or foreign company registered under this Act (or a domestic company or
an overseas company registered under the Companies Act 2001) commits an offence.
(2C) Any international company may apply in writing to the Authority for an exemption from this section pursuant to section 224 stating the reasons why the applicant believes this section ought not to apply.
(3) No description of an international company shall be deemed inadequate or incorrect by reason of the use of:
(a) the abbreviations “Corp.” or “Inc.” or “Ltd.” in lieu of the word “Corporation” or “Incorporated” or “Limited” as the case may be, contained in the name of the company;
(b) the word “Corporation” or “Incorporated” or “Limited” in lieu of the abbreviation “Corp.” or “Inc.” or “Ltd.”, as the case may be, contained in the name of the company; or
(c) the symbol “&” in lieu of the word “and” contained in the name of the company or the word “and”
in lieu of the symbol “&” in the name of the company.
(4) A person may lodge with the Registrar an application in the prescribed form for the reservation of a name set out in the application
as:
(a) the name of any intended international company; or
(b) the name to which an international company proposes to change its name.
(5) If the Registrar considers that the application is made bona fide and is satisfied that the proposed name is a name by which the
intended international company or the international company could be registered without contravention of subsection (1), he or she
shall, upon payment of the prescribed fee, reserve the proposed name for a period of 3 months from the date of the lodging of the
application.
(6) If, at any time, during the period for which a name is reserved, an application is lodged with the Registrar for an extension of
that period and the Registrar is satisfied as to the bona fides of the application, he or she may upon payment of the prescribed
fee extend that period for a further period of 3 months.
(7) During a period for which a name is reserved, no company person, firm or society, other than the international company or intended
international company in respect of which the name is reserved, shall be registered under this Act or any other Act, whether originally
or on change of name, under the reserved name or under any other name that, in the opinion of the Registrar, so closely resembles
the reserved name as to be likely to be mistaken for that name.
(8) The reservation of a name under this section in respect of an intended international company or an international company shall not
in itself entitle the intended company or company to be registered by that name, either originally or on change of name.
23. Change of name – (1) An international company may by special resolution or, where permitted by its memorandum, by a resolution of the directors, and with
the approval of the Registrar change its name to a name by which the company could be registered without contravention of section
22(1).
(2) If the name of an international company, whether through inadvertence or otherwise and whether originally or by change of name, is
a name by which the international company could not be registered without contravention of section 22(1), the company may by special
resolution change its name to a name by which the company can be registered without contravention of that section and, if the Registrar
so directs, shall so change it within 30 days after the date of the direction or such longer period as the Registrar allows and the
company that fails to comply with such direction, commits an offence.
(3) A change of name pursuant to this Act does not affect the identity of the international company or any rights or obligations of the
company or render defective any proceedings by or against the company. Any legal proceedings that might have been continued or be
commenced by or against the company by its former name may be continued or commenced by or against the company by its new name.
(4) Where an international company changes its name under the provisions of this section, it shall forthwith surrender to the Registrar
its certificate of incorporation and the Registrar shall issue a new certificate bearing the company’s new name, and the change
of name shall take effect only from the date of the issue of the new certificate.
24. Articles of association – (1) Except where an international company is incorporated pursuant to a request made to a trustee company under section 14(10), there
may be lodged with the memorandum of an international company articles of association signed by the subscribers to the memorandum
prescribing regulations for the company, which modify the articles contained in Table A.
(2) Articles shall be:
(a) printed;
(b) divided into numbered paragraphs; and
(c) signed by each subscriber to the memorandum or, if any subscriber is a company, sealed with its company seal or signed on its behalf.
25. Adoption of Table A – (1) An international company may adopt all or any of the articles contained in Table A of Schedule 2.
(2) If articles are lodged and filed which neither exclude the articles contained in Table A nor modify the articles contained in that
Table, the articles in Table A shall, so far as applicable, be the articles of the international company in the same manner and to
the same extent as if they were contained in the articles lodged and filed.
26. Alteration of articles – (1) Subject to any limitation in its articles, an international company may alter its articles by a special resolution of the members
or, where permitted by its articles, by a resolution of the directors.
(2) An international company that alters its articles shall, within 21 days of the resolution having been passed, submit a copy of the
alteration and the resolution authorising such alteration to the Registrar and the Registrar shall retain and register the copy of
the alteration and the resolution.
(3) Despite any failure to lodge such resolution with the Registrar the resolution shall be effective from its date of passing.
(4) An officer of the international company who knowingly permits a contravention of the provisions of this section commits an offence.
27. Effect of memorandum and articles – (1) Subject to this Act, the memorandum and articles shall when filed bind the international company and the members thereof, including
the holders of share warrants, to the same extent as if they respectively had been signed and sealed by each member and contained
covenants on the part of each member to observe all the provisions of the memorandum and articles.
(2) All money payable by any member to the international company under the memorandum or articles shall be a debt due from him or her
to the company and be situated in Samoa and is of the nature of a specialty debt.
(3) Despite anything in the articles of an international company, no member of the company shall be bound by an alteration made in the
memorandum or articles after the date on which he or she became a member so far as the alteration requires the member to take or
to subscribe for more shares than the number held by the member at the date on which the alteration is made or in any way increase
the member’s liability as at that date to contribute to the share capital of, or otherwise to pay money to, the company, unless
either before or after the alteration is made the member agrees in writing to be bound thereby.
28. Copies of memorandum and articles – (1) An international company on being so required by any member shall send to the member a copy of the memorandum and of the articles
subject to payment to the company of such amount (if any), not exceeding the amount prescribed by the Registrar, as the company requires.
(1A) The Registrar in respect of an international company incorporated or registered after 1 February 1993 may, when so required by any
person, make available for inspection or copying, in whole or in part, the articles and memorandum of any such international company
and any alterations made thereto, which have been filed and registered, upon payment to the Registrar of such amount (if any) as
the Registrar may determine.
(2) Where an alteration is made in the memorandum or articles of the international company, a copy of the memorandum or articles shall
not be issued by the company after the date of alteration unless:
(a) the copy is in accordance with the alteration; or
(b) a printed copy of the resolution making the alteration is annexed to the copy of the memorandum or articles and the particular
clauses or articles affected are indicated in ink.
(3) Where a resolution affects the articles of an international company, a copy of the articles shall not be issued by the company after
the resolution was made unless a copy of the resolution is annexed to the copy of the articles.
(4) If default is made in complying with this section, the international company and an officer of the company who is in default commit
an offence.
29. Transactions and branches – (1) Contracts on behalf of an international company may be made as follows:
(a) a contract which if made by private persons would by law be required to be in writing under seal, may be made on behalf of the company either—
(i) in writing under the common seal of the company and signed by a director or by some other person appointed by the directors for the purpose:
PROVIDED THAT such signature need not be made contemporaneously with the affixing of the common seal of the company; or
(ii) for an international company having only one director, signed by that director; or
(iii) for an international company having two or more directors, signed by any two directors;
(b) a contract which if made between private persons would by law be valid although made by parol only, and not reduced into writing,
may be made by parol on behalf of the company by any person acting under its authority express or implied,–
and any contract so made shall be effectual in law and shall bind the company and its successors and all other parties thereto and
may be varied or discharged in the manner in which it is authorised to be made.
(2) A document or proceedings requiring authentication by an international company may be signed by an authorised officer of the company
and need not be under its common seal.
(3) An international company may by writing under its common seal empower any person either generally or in respect of any specified
matters as its agent or attorney to execute deeds on its behalf and a deed signed by such an agent or attorney on behalf of that
company under seal, or, subject to subsection (5) under the appropriate seal of the company, shall bind the company and all persons
dealing in good faith are entitled to presume the regular and proper execution of the deed, and to act accordingly.
(4) An international company if authorised by its articles may establish a branch in any part of the world.
(5) An international company and any branch thereof may have for use in any place outside Samoa a duplicate common seal which shall be
a facsimile of the common seal of the company with the addition on its face of the name of that branch; that seal shall be known
as the branch seal.
(6) Where an international company has established a branch it may in the instrument establishing the branch or in a subsequent instrument
signed or sealed by the resident secretary or under its own seal appoint one or more persons to be branch directors and to constitute
a local board, make provision for a branch seal and for its custody and prescribe the person by whom such seal is to be affixed;
and subject to any directions or restrictions imposed from time to time by the directors of the company, a branch shall have power
to bind the company and to issue shares or debentures of the company.
(7) A branch may enter into transactions in the same manner as the international company may enter into transactions.
(8) Instruments made or authenticated under or by use of any branch seal of an international company shall be as effective as if the
common seal of the company had been affixed thereto. The date on which and the place at which the branch seal is affixed to any
instrument shall be shown on the instrument.
29A. Persons having dealings with international companies – (1) A person having dealings with an international company is, subject to subsection (3), entitled to make, in relation to those dealings,
the assumptions referred to in subsection (2) and, in any proceedings in relation to those dealings, any assertion by the international
company that the matters that the person is so entitled to assume were not correct shall be disregarded.
(2) The assumptions that a person is, by virtue of subsection (1), entitled to make in relation to dealings, transactions or acts with
an international company are:
(a) that, at all relevant times, the memorandum and articles of the international company have been complied with; and
(b) that a person who appears, from the register of directors of the international company, to be a director of that company has been duly appointed and has authority to bind the company, and authorise others to do so, free of any limitation under the articles of the company; and
(c) that a person who is held out by an international company to be an officer or an agent of the international company has been duly appointed and has authority to exercise the powers and perform the duties customarily exercisable or performed by an officer or agent of the kind concerned; and
(d) that a document has been duly authorised and executed by an international company in accordance with section 29, whether or not the common seal of the company has been affixed and without the need to enquire as to whether or not a valid meeting of the relevant officers was, in fact, properly held; and
(e) that the officers of the international company properly perform their duties to the international company.
(3) Despite subsection (1), a person is not entitled to make an assumption referred to in subsection (2) in relation to dealings with
the company if the person had actual knowledge, or suspected, that the matter that, but for this subsection, the person would be
entitled to assume is not correct; but a person is presumed to act in good faith unless the contrary is proven.
30. Prohibition against carrying on business when no members – (1) Subject to subsection (2), if at any time an international company has no members and carries on business for more than 6 months
while it has no members, an officer, servant, employee or agent of that company during the time that it so carries on business after
those 6 months who know that the company has no members is liable, and if more than one, jointly and severally, for the payment of
the whole of the debts of the company contracted during the time that it so carried on business after those 6 months, and the company
and the officer, servant, employee or agent commit an offence if the company so carries on business after those 6 months; so long
as debentures of the kind referred to in section 57(1)(d) or 57(3) are issued and not redeemed the company, is taken , for the purposes
of this section, to have 1 member.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an officer, servant, employee or agent of an international company which has no members
who is carrying on the business of the company after 6 months while it has no members, if the officer, servant, employee or agent
is doing so by virtue of a direction of the Court or under the direction of an official liquidator appointed in respect of that company.
Division 3 – Limited Life International Companies
30A. Registration – (1) A trustee company may apply to incorporate or register an international company as a limited life international company by delivering
to the Registrar an original and true copy of the memorandum and articles of organisation which have been subscribed to by the trustee
company, which need not be a member of the limited life international company, or by the persons who will be the first members of
the company.
(2) An application for registration as a limited life international company may also be made under subsection (1) at the same time that
an application is made to register a company by way of continuance under section 16.
(3) A limited life international company shall have at least 2 members. A trustee company that subscribes to the memorandum of a limited
life international company shall not be a member of that company unless it subscribes for shares in the limited life international
company in accordance with section 30G(1).
(4) An application under subsection (1) must be accompanied by the prescribed application fee.
(5) Sections 14 and 15 do not apply to the incorporation of a limited life international company.
30B. Issue of Certificate – (1) The Registrar, if satisfied that the company complies with the provisions of Division 3 shall register the company as a limited life
international company.
(2) On registering a company as a limited life international company the Registrar shall:
(a) for a company referred to in section 30A (1), issue a certificate of incorporation certifying that the company is incorporated and registered as a limited life international company; and
(b) for a company referred to in section 30A(2), certify in the certificate of continuation issued pursuant to section 16 that the
company is registered as a limited life international company.
(3) The certificate confirming registration as a limited life international company shall be conclusive evidence that all the requirements
of this Act in respect of incorporation or registration and of all matters precedent and incidental thereto have been complied with
and that the limited life international company referred to therein has been legally incorporated and registered under this Act.
30C. Memorandum – (1) The memorandum of a limited life international company shall state the following:
(a) the name of the company;
(b) the address within Samoa of the registered office of the company;
(c) the purpose for which the company is being incorporated;
(d) the name and address of the resident agent in Samoa;
(e) the total amount of share capital which may be contributed to the company and the division thereof into shares of a fixed amount;
(f) the period of its duration, which shall be fifty years from the date of issue of the certificate under section 30B(2) if no period is specifically stated in the memorandum;
(g) the full name and address of the subscriber thereto or the full names and addresses of the subscribers thereto, as the case may be; and
(h) that the subscriber or subscribers to the memorandum desire the formation of a limited life international company;
(2) Where the memorandum is subscribed by a trustee company, it shall when registered bind the company and its members to the same extent
as if each member had subscribed his or her name thereto and as if there were contained in the memorandum on the part of the member,
his or her heirs, executors and administrators, a covenant to observe the provisions of the memorandum, subject to the provisions
of this Act.
(3) Section 18(1) does not apply to a limited life international company.
30D. Powers – A limited life international company registered and existing under this Act shall have, in addition to the powers granted under section 20 the powers set out in Schedule 3.
30E. Articles of Organisation – (1) The articles of organisation of a limited life international company shall state the following:
(a) if the management of the limited life international company is reserved exclusively to its members;
(b) if the management of the limited life international company is not reserved exclusively to its members, the extent to which, the management of the limited life international company is to be vested in a manager or managers, and if so shall set out the manner in which such manager or managers are to be appointed by the members;
(c) that, unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, the members who are managers of the limited life international company must own at all times during the existence of the company—
(i) an aggregate interest of not less than 1% in the income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the limited life international company; and
(ii) an aggregate interest of not less than 1% in the aggregate of the paid up capital and reserves of the limited life international company;
(d) the right, if given, and terms upon which the remaining members of the limited life international company may continue the business upon the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a member or occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of a member in the limited life international company;
(e) the right, if given, of the members to admit additional members, and the terms and conditions of the admission;
(f) that, unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, a member of a limited life international company is prohibited from transferring or assigning any share or other interest in the limited life international company without the approval in writing of all other members of the limited life international company, and that a transferee or an assignee of any share or other interest of a member in the limited life international company may not become a member of the limited life international company unless such transfer or assignment is approved in writing by all the members of the limited life international company other than the member transferring or assigning his or her share, shares or other interest in the limited life international company;
(g) that the limited life international company is prohibited from issuing shares to bearer or shares warrants to bearer;
(h) any other provision, not inconsistent with law, which the members elect to set out in the articles of organisation for the regulation
of the internal affairs of the limited life international company.
(2) Where the articles are subscribed by a trustee company they shall when registered bind the company and its members to the same extent
as if each member had subscribed his or her name thereto and as if there were contained in the articles on the part of the member,
his or her heirs, executors and administrators, a covenant to observe the provisions of the articles, subject to the provisions of
this Act.
(3) Sections 24 and 25 donot apply to a limited life international company.
30F. Name – The words “Limited Life International Company” or its abbreviations “LLC” or “L.L.C.”, “Ltd. Life Co.”, or “Limited Life International Co.” shall be included in the name of every limited life international company registered under the provisions of this Act.
30G. Members – (1) No share in a limited life international company incorporated under this Act shall be issued until the person subscribing for such
share has paid the consideration due in respect of that share.
(2) Subject to any limitations or provisions to the contrary in the memorandum or articles of organisation, each share in a limited life
international company incorporated under this Act shall be issued for money, services rendered, personal property (including other
shares, debt obligations or other securities in the company), an estate in real property, a promissory note or other binding obligation
to contribute money or property, or any combination thereof.
(3) No person shall become a member of a limited life international company until that person’s name and address is entered as
a member in the register of members under this Act or the articles of organisation.
(4) Sections 68 and 69 do not apply to a limited life international company.
(5) Neither the members of a limited life international company nor the managers of a limited life international company managed by a
manager or managers are liable under a judgment, decree or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation or liability
of the limited life international company.
30H. Management – (1) Management of the limited life international company shall be vested in its members, which unless otherwise provided in the articles
of organisation or operating agreement, if any, shall be in proportion to their contribution to the capital of the limited life international
company, as adjusted from time to time to properly reflect any additional contributions or withdrawals by the members.
(2) However, if provision is made for it in the articles of organisation, management of the limited life international company may be
vested in a manger or managers who shall be elected by the members in the manner prescribed by the articles of organisation or operating
agreement, if any, of the limited life international company.
(3) If the articles of organisation provide for the management of the limited life international company by a manager or managers, unless
the articles of organisation or operating agreement, if any, expressly dispenses with or substitutes for the requirement of annual
elections, the manager or managers shall be elected annually by the members in the manner provided in the articles of organisation
or the operating agreement, if any.
(4) The manager or managers, or the person appointed by the manager or managers, shall also hold the offices and have the responsibilities
accorded them by the members and set out in the articles of organisation or operating agreement, if any, of limited life international
company.
(5) Where the articles of organisation of a limited life international company provide for management of the company to be reserved to
the members or for a manager or managers to be appointed the company shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 83 and 91.
30I. Interest in Company – (1) The interest of all members in a limited life international company constitutes the personal estate of the member, and may be transferred
or assigned as provided in the articles of organisation or operating agreement, if any.
(2) However, if all of the other members of the limited life international company other than the member proposing to dispose of his or
her or its interest do not approve of the proposed transfer or assignment by unanimous written consent, the transferee of the member’s
interest shall have no right to participate in the management of the business and affairs of the limited life international company
or to become a member.
(3) The transferee is only entitled to receive the share of profits or other compensation by way of income and the return of contributions,
to which that member would otherwise be entitled.
30J. Resident Agent – (1) A limited life international company shall appoint a resident agent who shall:
(a) be a trustee company, an officer of a trustee company, or a wholly owned subsidiary of a trustee company; and
(b) be an agent for the limited life international company upon whom any process, notice or demand required or permitted by law to
be served upon the company may be served.
(2) The first resident agent of a limited life international company shall be nominated in the memorandum and thereafter the members
may by unanimous agreement remove and appoint a resident agent.
(3) The resident agent of a limited life international company shall be responsible for compliance by the limited life international
company with the requirements of this Act in relation to the lodging of all documents with the Registrar, the maintenance of the
company’s records in Samoa and for dealing with communications addressed to the company at its registered office.
(4) Section 90 doesnot apply to a limited life international company.
30K. Renewal Fees – A limited life international company isliable to pay to the Registrar on the 30th day of November of each year following the year in which it is incorporated or registered the prescribed annual renewal fee.
30L. Dissolution – (1) A limited life international company incorporated or registered under this Division shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) when the period fixed for the duration of the limited life international company shall expire;
(b) by the unanimous written agreement of all members of the limited life international company;
(c) subject to any contrary provisions in the articles of organisation, upon the redemption, repurchase or cancellation of all the shares of any member of the limited life international company;
(d) upon the transfer of any share or other interest in the limited life international company in contravention of the articles of organisation;
(e) upon the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy, dissolution of any member or occurrence of any other event which
terminates the continue membership of any member in the limited life international company, unless the business of the limited life
international company is continued by the consent of all the remaining members within 90 days following the occurrence of any such
event or pursuant to a right to do so stated in the articles of organisation or operating agreement of the limited life international
company.
(2) Within 14 days following the occurrence of any of the events specified in subsection (1), the limited life international company
shall file a notice of dissolution in such form as shall be prescribed by the Registrar.
(3) Upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in subsection (1), the person named in the articles of organisation shall without
further action become the liquidator or if the articles of organisation do not provide for such an appointment then the manager or
managers shall without further action become the liquidator, failing which the Registrar shall appoint an official liquidator to
be the liquidator of the company.
(4) Section 11(3) does not apply to a limited life international company.
(5) The winding up of a limited life international company shall commence from the date of appointment of the liquidator; and section
142(3) applies to a limited life international company except for the words “not being a transfer made to or with the sanction
of the liquidator, other than the transfer of a share warrant”.
(6) Within 120 days after the commencement of the winding up of a limited life international company, the liquidator shall determine
the claims validly made against the company, and immediately thereafter the liquidator, subject to the retention of funds to meet
the costs of the liquidation, shall pay such claims as are admissible against the company, repay capital contributions to members,
and distribute the surplus, if any, to the members.
(7) Upon making the payments referred to in subsection (5), the liquidator shall file with the Registrar a certificate of completion
of dissolution in such form as shall be prescribed by the Registrar. The Registrar shall endorse the certificate of completion of
dissolution and thereupon the existence of the limited life international company shall cease.
(8) Section 185(2) applies to a limited life international company but the words “resident secretary” are deleted and substituted
with the words “resident agent”.
(9) Section 188(1) applies to a limited life international company but the words “section 172” are deleted and substituted
with the words “section 30L”.
(10) Sections 143, 169, 170, 171, 172, 186, and 188 and subsections (3), (4) and (5) do not apply to a limited life international company.
30M. Repealed by s3 of Act 1996, No.4
PART 4
SHARES, DEBENTURES AND CHARGES
Division 1
Shares
31. Repealed by s89 of Act 1991, No.10
32. Repealed by s17 of Act 1991, No.10
33. Calls and forfeiture – (1) An international company may:
(a) make arrangements on the issue of shares for varying the amounts and times of payment of calls as between shareholders; and
(b) accept from any member the whole or any part of the amount remaining unpaid of any shares although no part of that amount has been called up; and
(c) pay dividends in proportion to the amount paid up on each share where a larger amount is paid up on some shares than on others.
(d) Repealed by s17 of Act 1991, No.10
(2) Repealed by s17 of Act 1991, No.10
34. Reserve liability – An international company by special resolution, may determine that any portion of its uncalled share capital shall not be capable of being called up except in the event of the company being wound up, but no such resolution shall prejudice the rights acquired by any person before the passing of the resolution.
35. Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9.
36. Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9.
37. Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9.
38. Repealed by s4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9.
39. Bearer shares and share warrants - A memorandum of a company that had issued bearer shares prior to the International Companies Amendment Act 2014 (“grandfather bearer share company”) is deemed to be amended from effect from 27 January 2014 to state that the company is not authorised to issue bearer shares or share warrants to a bearer, convert registered shares; and with effect from that date, the company shall cease to be a bearer share company.
39A. Transitional provision - (1) Any bearer shares or share warrants that have been issued by an international company to a bearer prior to 27 January 2014 shall continue for a period of 12 months from the commencement of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014 and thereafter shall cease to be a bearer share or share warrants.
(2) The rights in these bearer shares or share warrants must be converted into registered shares within 6 months from the commencement of the International Companies Amendment Act 2015. Any shares, warrants and the rights attached thereto that are not converted within this period are cancelled by operation of law.
40. Share premiums – Where an international company which is not licensed pursuant to the provisions of the International Insurance Act 1988 or the International Banking Act 2005 issues shares (having a par value) at a premium whether for cash or otherwise, such premium shall not be treated as if it were part of the paid up share capital of the company but shall constitute a freely distributable reserve.
41. Proceeds of issue of shares of no-par value – The proceeds of an issue of shares having no par value by an international company shall not be treated as if it were part of the paid up share capital of that company but shall constitute a freely distributable reserve of the company.
42. Effect of conversion of par value share capital into no-par value capital and vice versa – Where an international company converts all its ordinary or preference shares having a par value or both such ordinary and such preference shares, into shares without par value, the whole of the ordinary or preference share capital as the case may be, shall not be treated as if it were part of the paid-up share capital, of the company but shall constitute a freely distributable reserve of the company.
43. Currency of shares, interest-bearing shares, redeemable shares, shares with special rights and gift shares – (1) An international company shall have power to issue the number of shares stated in its memorandum and those shares may be shares having
a par value, or may be shares having no par value, or a combination of both, and may be divided into one or more classes, with such
designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights as shall be stated or provided for in the articles and all prices and
values given in respect of shares shall be expressed in dollars or in the money of any other country other than Samoa.
(2) The articles may limit or deny voting rights of or provide special voting rights for the shares of any class or the shares within
any class to any extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or regulations.
(3) An international company may issue shares of preferred or special classes and in particular, but without limiting subsection (1)
or (2), may issue shares:
(a) subject to the right of the company to redeem any of those shares at the price fixed by the articles for the redemption thereof or at the price fixed pursuant to powers contained therein; or
(b) entitling the holders thereof to cumulative, non-cumulative or partially cumulative dividends ;or
(c) having preference over any other class or classes of shares as to the payment of dividends; or
(d) having a preferential right to a dividend; or
(e) having preference in respect of the assets of the company over any other class or classes of shares upon the voluntary or compulsory liquidation of the company; or
(f) having rights only to return of paid up capital or to return of paid up capital plus no more than a fixed proportion thereof upon a liquidation of the company; or
(g) convertible into shares of any other class or into shares of any series of classes: PROVIDED THAT shares shall not be converted into a class having prior or superior rights or preferences as to dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation over shares proposed to be converted unless the consent of all members holding shares having such prior or superior rights is obtained; or
(h) Subject to forfeiture by the company in the circumstances or in the event provided in the articles or in terms of issue of the Shares:
PROVIDED THAT—
(i) the articles shall not be altered to make shares subject to forfeiture which were not originally so issued without the holders thereof being given an opportunity to object thereto and, in the event of their so doing, any alteration to that effect is void; and
(ii) a forfeiture or, where there have been previous forfeitures, the last forfeiture shall not be effective for any purpose if it by itself or in any combination with any other forfeiture results in the reduction of the number of members of the company to less than that permitted by this Act; or
(i) unless the articles provide to the contrary, on which interest is payable by the company to the holder at such rates and upon such terms and conditions as are fixed at the time of issue or by the articles: PROVIDED THAT such interest shall not become due and payable by the company to the holder if the company has any liabilities actual or contingent other than liabilities for interest on shares and, upon a winding-up, there shall be deemed to be no liability on the company for such claims until all creditors and the costs of the winding-up have been met or satisfied; or
(j) where the articles so permit and subject to the terms provided therein by way of gift and without receiving any valuable consideration and such shares may be deemed to be fully paid shares; shares issued by way of gift shall not for 3 months after the date of issue thereof be contained in the same certificate as other shares; and the certificates for all such shares shall clearly express the date of issue of the share or shares to which they relate; and for at least 3 months after such date of issue such certificate shall bear a notation clearly written thereon that such shares are liable to forfeiture under the provisions of this section within 3 months of the date of issue and no other note of or relating to the fact that such shares were issued without valuable consideration need be made upon the share certificate but a notification of such issue shall be made in the Minute Book of the company and in the register of members; or
(k) fractional shares carrying the corresponding fractional liabilities, limitations, preference, privileges, qualifications, restrictions,
rights and other attributes of a whole share or a class or series of shares.
(4) Where shares are issued by way of gift and without consideration:
(a) they shall not within 3 months after the date of their issue be exchanged for share warrants issued to bearer; and
(b) notices of such issue shall be given to a registered member and a debenture holder and if issued within 12 months after incorporation also to the subscribers to the memorandum; and
(c) if at any time within 3 months from the date of issue of such shares any of such persons to whom notice is required by this subsection to be given, objects to the issue of all or any of such shares the shares, the issue of which is objected to, shall be forfeited, and the issue shall be deemed never to have been made; and
(d) the total amount of the share issue shall be set by special resolution and by a transfer made to capital by the company from profits or revenue reserves.
(5)& (6) - Repealed by s23 of 1991, No.10
44. Redeemable shares and the repurchase of shares – (1) An international company which has issued redeemable shares may, if its articles so provide, redeem those shares on condition that
the redemption complies with section 54A.
(2) Unless the articles otherwise provide, where shares of an international company are repurchased by an international company, the
purchase shall constitute a cancellation of the shares and thereupon such shares may be restored to the status of authorised, but
unissued shares.
45. Repealed by s25 of 1991, No.10
46. Dealing by a company in its own shares – (1) Subject to any provision to the contrary in the articles, an international company may provide financial assistance, whether directly
or indirectly, and whether by way of loan, guarantee, or otherwise, for the purpose of, or in connection with, the purchase or subscription
of its own shares, the shares of any subsidiary or of any holding company.
(2) Purchases by an international company of its own shares shall be made only if the articles provide for such purchases to be made
and if the directors honestly believe that any purchase by the international company of its own shares will not result in the international
company thereby being incapable of meeting its obligations to its creditors as they fall due, within the meaning of section 54B.
(3) If this section is not complied with, an officer of the international company in default commits an offence.
(4) Where:
(a) a person is convicted of an offence under this section; and
(b) the Court is satisfied that the international company has suffered loss or damage as a result of the act or omission that constitutes
the offence, –
the Court may, in addition to imposing a penalty, order the convicted person to pay compensation to the international company of such
amount as the Court specifies.
47. Cancellation of re-acquired shares by an international company – An international company may at any time by resolution of its directors cancel all or any part of the shares of the company of any class re-acquired by it, other than redeemable shares redeemed or purchased.
48. Repealed by s28 of 1991, No.10
49. Repealed by s29 of 1991, No.10
50. Issue of shares of par value at a discount – (1) Subject to this section, an international company may issue par value shares of the company of a class already issued at a discount.
(2) Subject to any provision to the contrary in the articles of an international company, no shares shall be issued at a discount while
any share warrants or bearer shares for the international company remain un-surrendered.
(3) An application to issue shares at a discount shall be made to a trustee company and shall be accompanied by the names and addresses
of all members together with notices addressed to those members notifying them of the proposed issue, and specifying the maximum
rate of discount at which the shares are to be issued.
(4) The trustee company to which application is made shall, upon receipt of the application and the notice, despatch those notices and
inform the members to whom they are addressed that any objection must be conveyed so as to be received by the trustee company or
the Registrar within 42 days from the date of the notice.
(5) On the expiry of 60 days from the date of despatch of the notices referred to in subsection (3), the trustee company shall lodge
the application, together with any objections received by it, with the Registrar.
(6) Where any such application is made, the Registrar, may if, having regard to the circumstances of the case and any objections, the
Registrar thinks proper so to do, approve the issue on such terms and conditions as the Registrar thinks fit.
51. Issue price of shares of no par value requiring special resolution – (1) No international company shall issue shares having no par value of a class already issued at a price lower than an amount arrived
at by dividing that part of the stated capital contributed by already issued shares of that class, by the number of issued shares
of that class, unless the issue price of such shares is authorised by a special resolution of the company.
(2) The notice convening the meeting for the purpose of passing the special resolution referred to in subsection (1) shall be accompanied
by a report by the directors setting out the reasons for the proposed lower issue price.
(3) Repealed by s31 of 1991, No.10
(4) This section does not apply where the issue of shares is pursuant to an offer for subscription to all existing members in proportion
to their shareholdings, whether with or without the right to renounce in favour of other persons.
52. Alteration of share capital – (1) An international company may, by special resolution, alter the conditions of its memorandum and articles in any one or more of the following ways:
(a)—
(i) increasing its share capital by the creation of new shares of such par value as it thinks expedient;
(ii) increasing the number of its share having no-par value;
(iii) were the international company has existing shares with a par value, adding to its capital shares having no-par value;
(iv) where the international company has existing shares with no-par value, adding to its capital shares having a par value;
(b) increasing its share capital constituted by shares of no-par value by transferring reserves or profits to the stated capital, with or without a distribution of shares;
(c) consolidating and dividing all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amounts than its existing shares or consolidating and reducing the number of issued no par value shares;
(d) increasing the number of its issued no-par value shares without an increase of its stated capital;
(e) subdividing its shares or any of them into shares of smaller amounts than is fixed by the memorandum and articles provided always that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the redeemed share is derived;
(f) converting all of its ordinary or preference share capital consisting of shares having a par value into stated capital constituted by shares of no par value, subject to the provisions of this Act: PROVIDED THAT an existing company may not so convert any share capital which is not fully paid up;
(g) converting its stated capital constituted either by ordinary or preference shares of no-par value into share capital consisting of shares having a par value, subject to the provisions of this Act;
(h) cancelling shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any persons or which have been forfeited and diminishing the amount of the share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled;
(i) redenominating the currency of any shares by the conversion of shares denominated in one currency to the same number of shares
of another currency.
(2) A cancellation of shares under subsection (1)(h) is taken not to be a reduction of share capital within the meaning of this Act.
(2A) A redenomination of the currency of any shares under subsection (1)(i) is taken not to effect a cancellation of the existing shares
and the issue of fresh shares.
(3)& (4)Repealed by s32 of 1991, No.10
53. Validation of shares improperly issued – (1) Where an international company has purported to issue or allot shares and the issue or allotment of those shares was invalid by reason of any provision of this Act or of the memorandum or articles of the company or otherwise or the terms of issue or allotment were inconsistent with or unauthorised by any such provision, the Court may, upon application lodged with it by the company or by a holder or mortgagee of any of those shares or by a creditor of the company and upon being satisfied that in all the circumstances it is just and equitable so to do, make an order validating the issue or allotment of those shares or confirming the terms of issue or allotment thereof or both subject to such conditions, if any, as it may impose and upon such order being made and a copy thereof being lodged by the company or by such holder, mortgagee or creditor with the Registrar those shares shall be deemed to have been validly issued or allotted upon the terms of issue or allotment thereof as varied by the conditions, if any, imposed by the Court.
54. Special resolution for reduction of share capital – (1) Subject to confirmation by the Registrar, an international company may, if so authorised by its articles, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any way and, in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing may:
(a) extinguish or reduce the liability of any of the shares in respect of share capital not paid up; or
(b) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability on any of its shares, cancel any paid up capital which is lost or unrepresented by available assets; or
(c) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liability on any of its shares repay any paid up share capital which is in excess
of the needs of the company or which it is otherwise in the interests of the company as a whole to have paid off, –
and may, so far as necessary, alter its memorandum by reducing the amount of its share capital and of its shares accordingly.
(2) Where the proposed reduction of share capital involves limitation of liability in respect of unpaid share capital or the payment
to any shareholder of any paid up share capital, and in any other case if the Registrar so directs:
(a) a creditor of the international company who, at the time fixed by the Registrar, is entitled to any debt or claim which, if that date were the commencement of the winding-up of the company would be admissible in proof against the company, shall be entitled to object to the reduction; or
(b) the Registrar, unless satisfied by statutory declaration by the directors that there are no such creditors, shall settle a list of creditors so entitled to object and for that purpose shall ascertain as far as possible without requiring an application from any creditor the names of those creditors and the nature and the amount of their debts or claims, and may publish notices fixing a final day on or before which creditors not entered on the list may claim to be so entered; or
(c) where a creditor entered on the list whose debt is not discharged or whose claim has not been determined does not consent to the reduction, the Registrar may dispense with the consent of that creditor on the international company securing payment of his or her debt or claim by appropriating as the Registrar directs—
(i) if the company admits the full amount of the debt or claim or although not admitting it is willing to provide for it, the full amount of the debt or claim; or
(ii) if the company does not admit and is not willing to provide for the full amount of the debt or claim or if the amount is contingent
or not ascertained, an amount fixed by the Registrar.
(3) Despite subsection (2), the Registrar may, having regard to the circumstances of the case, direct that all or any of the provisions
of that subsection shall not apply as regards any class of creditors.
(4) All applications to the Registrar under subsections (2) and (3) shall be lodged with the Registrar and the international company
making such application shall bear the costs of any enquiry and advertisement directed by the Registrar under the provisions of those
subsections.
(5) The Registrar, if satisfied with respect to every creditor who under subsection (2) is entitled to object that either his or her
consent to the reduction has been obtained or his or her debt or claim has been discharged or has determined or has been secured,
may confirm the reduction on such terms and conditions as he or she thinks fit and may require the international company to publish
as the Registrar directs the reasons for reduction or such other information as the Registrar thinks expedient, and, if the Registrar
thinks fit, the causes which led to the reduction.
(6) A Registrar’s decision made under subsection (5) shall show the amount of the share capital of the international company as
altered by the decision, the number of shares into which it is to be divided and the amount of each share and the amount, if any,
at the date of the decision deemed to be paid up on each share.
(7) A copy of the decision made by the Registrar confirming a resolution for reducing share capital shall be lodged by the international
company with the Registrar together with the prescribed fee and on the filing of the copy of the decision the reduction of share
capital confirmed by that decision shall take effect.
(8) A certificate of the Registrar is conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this Act with respect to reduction of share capital
have been complied with and that the share capital of an international company is as stated in the order.
(9) On the filing of the copy of a Registrar’s decision the particulars shown in the decision pursuant to subsection (6) is taken
to be substituted for the corresponding particulars in the memorandum and such substitution and any addition ordered by the Registrar
to be made in the name of the international company is, in the case of any addition to the same, for such period as is specified
in the decision of the Registrar, taken to be an alteration of the memorandum for the purposes of this Act.
(10) A member, past or present, is not liable in respect of any share, to any call or contribution exceeding in amount the difference
between the amount of the share as fixed by the decision and the amount paid, on the share, as the case may be. Where any creditor
entitled to object to the reduction is not entered on the list of creditors, by reason of his or her ignorance of the proceedings
for reduction or of their nature and effect upon his or her claim, and after the reduction the international company is unable to
pay the amount of his or her debt or claim within 1 year after the debt or claim becomes due and payable or 1 year after the date
of reduction whichever is the later then:
(a) a person who was a member of that international company at the date of the registration of the Registrar’s decision for reduction is liable to contribute for the payment of that debt or claim to an amount not exceeding the amount which he or she would have been liable to contribute if the company had commenced to be wound up on the day before the date of the registration of the Registrar’s decision for reduction; and
(b) if that international company is wound up by the Court on an application by any such creditor, then upon proof of his or her ignorance
of the proceedings for reduction or of their nature and effect upon his or her claim, the Court may settle a list of persons so liable
to contribute, and make and enforce calls and orders on the contributories in a winding-up, –
but nothing in this subsection effects the rights of the contributories among themselves.
(11) An officer of any international company who:
(a) wilfully conceals the name of any creditor entitled to object to the reduction; or
(b) wilfully misrepresents the nature or the amount of the debt or claim of any creditor; or
(c) is party to any such concealment or misrepresentation, –
commits an offence and is personally liable for the amount of such debt or claim.
54A. Capital maintenance, dividends and other distributions – (1) An international company may, if so authorised by its articles, make any distribution to members or reduce or extinguish the liability of its members in any way and, in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing may:
(a) extinguish or reduce the liability of any of the shares in respect of share capital not paid up; or
(b) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liabilities on any of its shares, cancel paid up capital which is lost or unrepresented by available assets; or
(c) either with or without extinguishing or reducing liabilities on any of its shares, repay to the members any paid up share capital which is in excess of the needs of the company or which is otherwise in the interests of the company to repay; or
(d) convert any amount of the capital of the company to debt obligations owed by the company to the holder of those shares (whether
by repayment or by direct conversion to an instrument); and may, so far as is necessary, alter its memorandum by reducing the amount
of its share capital and its shares accordingly, –
each such transaction is henceforth referred to in this section as a “capital reduction transaction”.
(2) Except insofar as this section otherwise provides, any capital reduction transaction shall be a valid act of the international company
if, at the time of effecting that capital reduction transaction the directors have an honest belief that the transaction will not
result in the company being incapable of meeting its obligations to creditors as they fall due.
(3) A capital reduction transaction if it has the effect of returning assets to or reducing liabilities in respect of some but not all
of the shareholders of the company (or to some but not all of the holders of any class of shares in the company) is, except insofar
as is effected in accordance with the rights of members as specified in the articles of the company, taken to be a variation of those
rights to which the shareholders may object and section 55 applies, with necessary modification, to such variation.
(4) A capital reduction transaction effected otherwise than in accordance with subsection (2) is void at the absolute discretion of a
liquidator and any creditor of the company.
(5) Where an international company effects a capital reduction transaction, other than the payment of a dividend in accordance with subsection
(6), there shall be lodged with the Registrar for filing within 42 days of its having effected that transaction a capital reduction
notice.
(6) Despite anything to the contrary in this Act, an international company may pay dividends out of current or prior year profits (including
any capital profits), any unrealised gains, or from any other reserve without the need to make good prior year losses (if any) and
such dividends may be distributed in cash or any other form.
(7) If the provisions of this section are not complied with an officer of the international company who is in default commits an offence.
(8) Nothing in this section affects:
(a) any transaction effected in accordance with section 46 or 54;or
(b) if the articles so provide, the redemption of any shares out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares; or
(c) any bonus issue; or
(d) the forfeiture of any shares in accordance with section 43(j) unless such forfeiture does not involve the distribution of any asset of the international company; or
(e) the cancellation of shares or reduction of capital in any other manner permitted by this Act.
(9) Nothing in this section precludes an international company from further limiting whether by contract or otherwise, its ability to
make distributions.
(10) Subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8) and (9) do not apply to:
(a) banks licensed under the International Banking Act 2005; or
(b) any international company licensed under the International Insurance Act 1988.
54B. Debts to be taken into account in determining solvency – Where this Act requires the directors of an international company to determine whether any act or omission shall result in the international company being incapable of meeting its obligations to its creditors as they fall due, the directors shall take into account:
(a) all actual debts of the international company; and
(b) such contingent debts of the international company which the directors honestly believe, on the balance of probabilities, will require a disposition of any economic benefit of the international company at any future time to satisfy those debts.
55. Rights of holders of classes of shares – (1) If the share capital of an international company is divided into different classes of shares and provision is made by its articles
for authorising the variation or abrogation of the rights attached to any class of shares in the company, subject to the consent
of any specified proportion of the holders of the issued shares of that class or the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate
meetings of holders of those shares and, in pursuance of those provisions, the rights attached to any class of shares are at any
time varied or abrogated.
(2) The holders of not less in the aggregate than 10% of the issued shares of that class, being persons who did not consent to or vote
in favour of the resolution for the variation or abrogation under subsection (1), may lodge an application with the Registrar to
have the variation or abrogation cancelled and if any such application is made, the variation or abrogation shall not have effect
until confirmed by the Registrar on application lodged by the company in the manner prescribed.
(3) An application shall not be invalid by reason of any applicant having consented to or voted in favour of the resolution for the variation
or abrogation if the Registrar is satisfied that any relevant fact was not disclosed by the international company to that applicant
before he or she so consented or voted and the applicant is taken not to have consented to, or voted in favour of that resolution.
(4) The application shall be lodged within 28 days after the date on which consent was given or the resolution was passed or such further
time as the Registrar allows, and the application shall be lodged in the first instance in writing in the prescribed form.
(5) After hearing the applicant and any other person who lodges an application with the Registrar to be heard and who appears to the
Registrar to be interested, the Registrar may, disallow or confirm the variation or abrogation as the case may be. The decision of
the Registrar shall be final and he or she has discretion as to how the costs and expenses of and incidental to such application
shall be paid and may issue directions accordingly.
(6) An international company shall within 28 days after the making of a decision by the Registrar on any such application cause to be
lodged with the Registrar a copy of the Registrar’s decision and if default is made in complying with this provision, the international
company and any officer of the company who is in default commit an offence.
(7) The issue of a Table B Debenture by an international company are taken to be a variation of the rights of shareholder to which the
shareholders may object and the provisions of this section apply, with necessary adaptation to the variation.
56. Rights of holders of preference shares to be set out in articles – (1) An international company shall not allot a preference share or convert an issued share into a preference share unless there is set
out in its articles the rights of the holder of such a share with respect to the payment of capital, participation in surplus assets
and profits, cumulative or non-cumulative dividends, voting and priority of payment of capital and dividend in relation to other
shares or other classes of preference shares.
(2) The issue by an international company of preference shares ranking paripassu with existing preference shares issued by the company is taken to be a variation of the rights attached to those existing preference
shares unless the issue of the first mentioned shares was authorised by the terms of issue of existing preference shares or by the
articles in force at the time the existing preference shares were issued.
(3) If default is made in complying with this section, the international company and an officer of the company who is in default commit
an offence.
Division 2 – Debentures
57. Power to issue debentures – (1) Subject to this Division and to the terms and conditions of its memorandum or articles an international company shall have power to issue debentures on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and in particular but without limiting the generality of the foregoing may issue the following debentures:
(a) constituting a charge on any or all the assets of the company;
(b) as bearer debentures;
(c) convertible from bearer debentures to ordinary debentures;
(d) as Table B debentures.
(2) The debt payable under any debenture whether sealed or signed on behalf of the company shall be a specialty debt of the company and
where issued by a branch of a company shall be located at that branch.
(3) A Table B debenture issued by an international company so far as it does not exclude or modify the terms contained in Table B is taken
to have been issued upon the terms and conditions contained in Table B and the following provisions of this subsection is taken to
be issued subject to the terms contained in Table B and such Table B Debenture shall (subject always to the terms thereof) have the
following effect:
(a) the holders of such debentures have a right and power to vote and to demand a poll and thereby to determine all those matters in respect of which the members had the right and power to vote and to demand a poll before those rights and powers of the members became suspended or modified in accordance with the terms of the Table B Debenture;
(b) a holder of such debenture, or the trustee for any such holder, shall have one vote for each whole dollar, or its equivalent in any other currency, of the principal sum the subject of the debenture outstanding at the time when the votes are counted;
(c) the holders of such debentures may cast their votes by proxy in writing without attending a meeting;
(d) a resolution in writing signed by a majority in value of the holders of such debentures shall be as effectual as would a resolution passed by a similar majority at a meeting duly convened and held for the purpose;
(e) the memorandum and articles of the company may not be altered;
(f) any provision in this Act or the articles of the company by which anything is required or permitted to be done by general meeting or by a resolution of the members shall be construed as requiring or permitting the same to be done by a resolution of those debenture holders in whom the right and power to vote are for the time being vested, passed by such majority of votes as would, if the votes were votes of members, be the majority necessary to pass the resolution;
(g) subject to paragraph (d) notice of a meeting of those debenture holders, in whom the right and power to vote are for the time being vested shall be given to such debenture holders and their trustees, if any, in the same manner as notice of a meeting of members is required to be given to members;
(h) unless it is otherwise provided by the terms of the debenture, the quorum for any meeting of the holders of such debentures shall be 2;
(i) upon the redemption of any such debenture the rights and powers referred to above of the holders of such debentures shall cease and determine;
(j) the holder of a Table B Debenture shall not be deemed to be or to have been a member or a shareholder of an international company
by reason only of the holding of such Table B Debenture or the exercise by him or her or on his or her behalf of any rights or powers
or discretions pursuant to the terms of the Table B Debenture or the dealing in any way with the Table B Debenture.
(3A) Despite any other provision of this Act or any implication which apart from this subsection might arise or would arise at law or in
equity, the holding or dealing with a Table B debenture shall not impose or imply and shall be deemed (subject to an express provision
contained in the terms of issue of any such debenture or arising as a necessary implication therefrom) never to have imposed or implied
any duty on the part of the holder of the Table B debenture to exercise any right or power or discretion contained in or arising
out of or connected with the Table B debenture for any particular purpose or to exercise any such right or power or discretion subject
to any fiduciary or other like obligations whatsoever.
(4) A Table B Debenture of an international company shall bear a serial number, shall be sealed or signed on behalf of the company or
the branch of the company which issues it and shall contain:
(a) the name of the company; and
(b) the date of issue of the debenture; and
(c) a statement of the quorum for meeting of debenture holders, which if it differs from that provided for in Table B shall be a sufficient statement of the exclusion of that part of Table B; and
(d) a statement of the name of the debenture holder where the debenture is not issued to bearer; and
(e) a statement of the amount of principal (if any) for which such debenture is issued; and
(f) the date upon which such principal is due and payable, if not payable on demand; and
(g) the currency or currencies in which the principal and interest are payable, (not being Samoa currency); and
(h) the rate of interest, if any, per annum payable thereon.
(5) Where the provisions of this Act and of the articles of an international company which give the members of the company the right
and power to vote and to demand a poll have been suspended or have otherwise been modified pursuant to the terms of a Table B debenture,
then (subject to there being no other unredeemed Table B debentures under the terms of which such provisions are to remain suspended)
those provisions shall:
(a) upon redemption of that Table B debenture resume full force and effect in respect of that company in the same manner and to the same extent as before those provisions were suspended or were modified; and
(b) if those provisions resume full force and effect in any other circumstances than in the absence of any provisions to the contrary
in the articles or in any relevant Table B debenture, resume full force and effect in the same manner and to the same extent as before
those provisions were suspended or modified.
(6) Subject to section 58(17), a bearer debenture issued by an international company may be converted by the holder into an ordinary
debenture unless the terms of the debenture or the articles as at the date of issue of the debenture by the company otherwise provide.
(7)Repealed by s37 of Act1991, No.10
58. Company to maintain register of debentures – (1) Subject to the provisions of this section every international company which issues debentures shall keep and maintain:
(a) a register of debenture at the registered office of the company in Samoa; and
(b) a copy of all the terms of Table B Debentures issued by the company with the register of holders of debentures at that registered
office; and if the terms of a Table B debenture incorporate in whole or in part the provisions of Table B of Schedule 2 or terms
provided for in the articles of association of the company or prescribed as being the form which may or shall be adopted in a particular
case, the copy of the terms kept with the register may disclose such terms by reference to that Table or regulation or those articles.
(2) to (6) Repealed by s38 of 1991, No.10
(7) An international company may cause to be kept in any place outside Samoa a branch register of debentures.
(8)Repealed by s38 of 1991, No.10
(9) A branch register of an international company shall be kept in the same manner in which the principal register is by this Act required
to be kept.
(10) An international company may discontinue a branch register and thereupon all entries in that register shall be transferred to some
other branch register kept by the company or to the principal register.
(11) Where a debenture is registered on a branch register the debenture and all rights arising therefrom shall be situated in the place
where it is registered and unless otherwise expressed in the debenture the principal and interest is payable in the money of the
place of registration calculated at the exchange rate at noon on the date on which it becomes due and payable (excepting at all times
Samoa currency).
(12)Repealed by s38 of 1991, No.10.
(13) A debenture registered in a branch register may be distinguished from a debenture registered in the principal register.
(14) The costs of maintaining branch registers shall, unless the debenture otherwise provides, be borne rateably according to the number
of debentures registered therein by the holders of those debentures.
(15) No debenture holder may transfer a debenture issued by an international company from one register to another but the company may
transfer a debenture from one register to another:
PROVIDED THAT any international company wishing to so transfer a debenture shall first obtain the written consent of the debenture holder to such
transfer (provided that the company shall be obliged to obtain such consent from the holder for the time being of a bearer debenture
unless the holder shall in writing have advised the company of his or her address for notice) which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
(16)Repealed by s38 of 1991, No.10.
(17) A Table B debenture issued to bearer may be converted to an ordinary debenture and in the absence of any provision to the contrary
contained in that debenture or in the articles as at the date of issue of that debenture then the conversion shall be effected in
the following manner:
(a) a photographic copy of the bearer debenture of the negotiable documents in respect of the same as the case may be shall be delivered to the registered office of the company in Samoa together with a direction as to the name and address of the person who is to be recorded as the holder of the debenture;
(b) thereupon the directors of the company shall resolve to record on the register the person so named as the holder of the debenture;
(c) recording pursuant to such a resolution shall be undertaken upon receipt by the company of the original bearer debenture or the negotiable documents in respect of the same as the case may be within the time specified in paragraph (e), and shall have effect as from the date of the director’s resolution;
(d) upon the resolution of the directors referred to in paragraph (b) the original bearer debenture shall cease to be a security of the company but in the event of the same or the negotiable documents in respect of the same as the case may be not being received within the time specified in paragraph (e) the original bearer debenture shall become a security of the company once more ranking from the original date of issue;
(e) upon the original bearer debenture or the negotiable documents in respect of the same as the case may be being received by the company for cancellation within 1 month of the passing of the resolution the company shall issue a certificate to the person entitled thereto in respect of the ordinary debenture into which the bearer debenture has been converted;
(f) should the original bearer debenture or the negotiable documents in respect of the same as the case may be not be received by
the company for cancellation within 1 month of the passing of the resolution the original security and the resolution for recording
and any recording in respect of the conversion shall be deemed to be cancelled.
(18) An international company shall be responsible for any loss incurred by any person by reason of the company recording in its register
of debentures the name of the holder of any bearer debenture without the original bearer debenture or the negotiable documents in
respect of the same as the case maybe being surrendered to that company and cancelled prior to or contemporaneously with that entry.
(19) Upon the surrender to an international company of registered debenture the company shall enter in the appropriate register of debentures
the fact and date of its surrender.
59. Perpetual debentures – (1) A condition contained in a debenture or in a deed for securing a debenture shall not be invalid by reason only that the debenture
is thereby made irredeemable or redeemable only on the happening of a contingency, however remote, or on the expiration of a period,
however long, any rule of law or equity to the contrary notwithstanding.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), despite anything in any debenture or trust deed, the security for a debenture issued by an international
company which is irredeemable or redeemable only on the happening of a contingency shall, if the Court so orders, be enforceable
forthwith or at such other time as the Court directs if, on the application of the trustee for the holder of the debenture or , where
there is no trustee, on the application of the holder of the debenture, the Court is satisfied that:
(a) at time of the issue of the debenture the assets of the international company which constituted or were intended to constitute the security therefore were sufficient to discharge the principal debt and any interest thereon; and
(b) the security, if realised under the circumstances existing at the time of the application, would be likely to bring not more than 60 per centum of the principal sum of moneys outstanding, regard being had to all prior charges and charges ranking equally (pari passu), if any; and
(c) the assets covered by the security, on a fair valuation on the basis of a going concern, after allowing a reasonable amount for
depreciation are worth less than the principle sum and the international company is not making sufficient profit to pay the interest
due on the principle sum or, where no definite rate of interest is payable, interest thereon at such rate as the Court considers
would be a fair rate to expect from a similar investment.
(3) Subsection (2) does not affect any power to vary rights accept any compromise or arrangement created by the terms of a debenture
or the relevant trust deed or under a compromise or arrangement between the international company and its creditors.
60. Reissue of redeemed debentures – (1) Where an international company has redeemed any debentures:
(a) unless any provision to the contrary, whether express or implied, is contained in any contract entered into by the company; or
(b) unless the company has, by passing a resolution to that effect or by some other act, manifested its intention that the debentures
shall be cancelled, –
that company has power to reissue the debentures, either by reissuing the same debentures or by issuing other debentures in their
place, but the reissue of a debenture or the issue of one debenture in place of another under this subsection shall not be regarded
as the issue of a new debenture for the purpose of any provision limiting the amount or number of debentures that may be issued by
the company.
(2) After the reissue, the person entitled to the debenture shall have and shall be deemed always to have had the same priorities as
if the debenture had never been redeemed.
(3) Where an international company has deposited any of its debentures to secure advances on current accounts or otherwise the debentures
shall not be deemed to have been redeemed by reason only of the account of the company having ceased to be in debt while the debentures
remain so deposited.
Division 3 – Title and Transfers
61. Nature of shares – The shares of a member in an international company are personal estate, transferable in the manner provided by the articles, and are not of the nature of real estate.
62. Repealed by s39 of 1991, No.10.
63. Certificate or warrant to be evidence of title – (1) A certificate under the seal of an international company or any branch thereof specifying any shares held by any member of the company
is prima facie, evidence of the title of the member to the shares.
(2) A share certificate or share warrant shall be under the seal of the international company or a branch thereof and shall state:
(a) the name of the company and the authority under which the company is constituted; and
(b) the address of the registered office of the company in Samoa or, where the certificate is issued by a branch of the company, the address of that branch; and
(c) where the shares have a par value the nominal value and the extent to which the shares are paid up; and
(d) the class of the shares;
(3) Failure to comply with this section does not affect the rights of any holder of shares.
(4) If default is made in complying with this section then the international company and an officer of the company who is in default
commit an offence.
64. Company may have share seal – An international company may, if authorised by is articles have a seal which shall have on its face the name of the company and the words “Share Seal” and a share certificate under such seal is taken to be sealed with the common seal of the company for the purposes of this Act.
65. Loss or destruction of certificate – (1) Subject to subsection (2), where a certificate or other document of title of shares or debentures other than share warrants or bearer debentures, is lost or destroyed the international company issuing the shares or debentures shall, on payment of a fee prescribed by regulation, issue a duplicate certificate document instead to the owner on his or her application accompanied by:
(a) a statutory declaration that the certificate or document has been lost or destroyed, and has not been pledged, sold or otherwise disposed of and, if lost, that proper searches have been made;
(b) an undertaking in writing that, if it is found or received by the owner, it will be returned to the company; and
(c) such indemnity against loss in favour of the company and its officers as the company may require.
(2) The directors of an international company before accepting an application for the issue of a duplicate certificate or document, may
require the applicant:
(a) to cause an advertisement to be made in the manner and place specified by the directors stating that the certificate or document has been lost or destroyed and that the owner intends after the expiration of 28 days, after the publication of the advertisement to apply to the company for a duplicate; or
(b) to provide a bond for an amount equal to at least the current market value of the shares or debentures indemnifying the company against loss following on the production of the original certificate or document, –
or, may require the applicant to do both of those things.
(3) In the case of share warrants duplicate warrants shall be issued only in accordance with the provisions of the articles.
(4) In the case of bearer debentures duplicate certificates shall be issued only in accordance with the terms of issue of the debenture
which has been lost or destroyed.
66. Instruments of transfer – (1) Except in the case of bearer shares, share warrants to bearer or bearer debentures, an international company shall not register a
transfer of shares or debentures unless a proper instrument of transfer has been delivered to the company, but this section shall
not prejudice any power to register as a shareholder or debenture holder any person to whom the right to any shares or debenture
of the company has been transmitted by operation of law.
(2) Although a personal representative is not himself or herself a member of the company or holder of a debenture or other interest,
a transfer of the share, debenture or other interest of a deceased person made by his or her personal representative shall be as
valid as if he or she had been such a member or holder at the time of the execution of the instrument of transfer.
(3) Bearer shares and share warrants shall be transferable in the manner described in sections 35 and 36, respectively.
(4) Bearer debentures shall, except in so far as the trust deed relating to, or the terms of issue of, or the debenture itself make other
provision in that behalf, be transferable by delivery.
(5) An international company may refuse to register a transfer of a share or debenture of a deceased person otherwise than by a personal
representative of that person who has taken out or obtained probate or letters of administration of the estate of the deceased person.
67. Repealed by s41 of 1991, No.10.
68. Registration of transfer at request of transferor – (1) On the request in writing of a transferor of any share or debenture, other than a bearer share, share warrant to bearer or bearer debenture, in an international company:
(a) the company shall enter in the appropriate register the name of the transferee in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as if the application for the entry were made by the transferee; and
(b) the company shall by notice in writing require the person having possession, custody or control of the share certificate or debenture
and the instrument of transfer thereof or either of them to post or deliver it or them to the registered office of the company in
Samoa within a stated period, being not less than 14 and not more than 42 days after the date of the notice, to have the share certificate
or debenture cancelled or rectified and the transfer registered or otherwise dealt with.
(2) If any person refuses or neglects to comply with the notice given under subsection (1), the transferor may lodge an application with
the Registrar to issue a notice to that person to show cause why the documents mentioned in the notice should not be delivered up
or produced as required by the notice.
(3) Regulations may be made providing for the issue of a new certificate, the cancellation of the old certificate and otherwise for regulating
the rights of all persons in respect of the documents the subject of such notice.
69. Notice of refusal to register transfer – (1) If an international company refuses to register a transfer of any share, debenture or other interest in the company, it shall, within
2 months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the company, send to the transferee notice of the refusal.
(2) If default is made in complying with this section, the international company and an officer of the company who is in default commit
an offence.
70. Certification of transfers – (1) The certificate by an international company of any instrument of transfer of shares, debentures or other interest in the company
shall be taken as a representation by the company to any person acting on the faith of the certificate that there have been produced
to the company such documents as show a prima facie title to the shares, debentures or other interests in the transferor named in the instrument of transfer but not as a representation
that the transferor has any title to the shares, debentures or other interests.
(2) Where any certification by an international company is expressed to be limited to 42 days or any longer period from the date of certification,
the company and its officers are not, in the absence of fraud or wilful default or wilful neglect, liable in respect of the registration
of any transfer of shares, debentures or other interests comprised in the certification after the expiration of the period so limited
or any extension thereof given by the company if the instrument of transfer has not within that period been lodged with the company
for registration.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(a) an instrument of transfer shall be deemed to be certified if it bears the words “certificate lodged” or words to the like effect; and
(b) the certificate of an instrument of transfer is taken to be made by a company if the person issuing the instrument is a person authorised to issue certified instruments of transfer on the company’s behalf and the certificate is signed by a person authorised to certify transfers on the company’s behalf or by any officer either of the company or of a company so authorised; and
(c) a certificate that purports to be authenticated by a person’s signature or initials, whether handwritten or not, is taken to be signed by him or her unless it is shown that the signature or initials were not placed there by him and were not placed there by any other person authorised to use the signature or initials for the purpose of certifying transfers on the company’s behalf.
71. Duties of company with respect to issue of certificate – (1) Other than such a transfer as the company is, for any reason, entitled to refuse to register and does not register, every international
company, within 2 months after the allotment of any of its shares or debentures and within 1 month after the date on which a transfer
of any of its shares or debentures is lodged shall complete and have ready for delivery the appropriate certificates, warrants and
debentures in connection with the allotment or transfer, unless in the case of shares the conditions of issue otherwise provide.
(2) If any international company on which a notice has been served requiring the company to make good any default in complying with the
provisions of this section fails to make good the default within 21 days after the service of the notice, the Registrar may on the
application of the person entitled to have the certificate or warrant for the shares or debentures delivered to him or her direct
the company and every officer of the company to make good the default within such time as is specified in the direction, and the
direction may provide that all costs and expenses of and incidental to the application shall be borne by the company and by any officer
of the company in default in such proportions as the Registrar thinks fit.
(3) If default is made in complying with this section, the international company and an officer of the company who is in default commit
an offence.
Division 3 – Registration of Charges
72. Filing of charges – (1) Subject to this Division, where a charge to which this section applies is created by an international company, the company or any other person interested in the charge may cause to be lodged with the Registrar for filing within 42 days after the creation of the charge be lodged with the Registrar for filing within 42 days after the creation of the charge:
(a) the instrument, if any, by which the charge is created or evidenced; or
(b) a statement giving a short description of the property charged, the amount thereby secured, nature of the instrument, and the
names of the chargees or persons entitled to the benefit thereof.
(1A) Where the instrument or a statement is not lodged with the Registrar in accordance with subsection (1), the charge shall, so far as
any security on the company’s property or undertaking is conferred thereby, and without prejudice to any contract or obligations
for repayment of the money secured by the charge, be void against a liquidator and any creditor of the company.
(1B) A person who files an instrument or statement with the Registrar in accordance with subsection (1) must either:
(a) forward a copy of the filed instrument or statement to the registered office of the company to which the instrument or statement relates within 7 days of it being filed; or
(b) request that the Registrar give notice of the lodgement of the instrument or statement to the registered office of the company
to which the instrument or statement relates.
(1C) A request under subsection (1B)(b) shall be subject to the payment of an additional fee as fixed from time to time by the Registrar.
(1D) The failure by the Registrar to give any notification requested under subsection (1B)(b) does not affect the validity of any charge
conferred by the instrument or statement, and the Authority is not liable for any consequence arising from such a failure.
73. Filing of pre-existing charges – (1) Where an international company acquires any property which is subject to a charge of any such kind as may, if it had been created by the company after acquisition of the property, have been filed under this Division, the company or any other person interested in the charge may cause:
(a) a statement giving a short description of the nature of the instrument by which the charge was created, the property charged, the amount thereby secured, and the names of chargees or persons entitled to the benefit thereof; or
(b) a copy of the charge, to be lodged with the Registrar for filing within 42 days after the date on which the acquisition is effected.
(2) Where any charge to which this section applies is not filed with the Registrar pursuant to subsection (1), the charge shall, so far
as any security on the company’s property or undertaking is conferred thereby, but without prejudice to any contract or obligation
for repayment of the money thereby secured, be void against a liquidator and any creditor of the company.
74. Filing of charges by foreign companies which become registered under this Act – (1) This section applies to charges by foreign companies in respect of property situated in Samoa if:
(a) the foreign company creates the charge whilst registered under Part 10; or
(b) the foreign company has previously created the charge prior to registration, but subsequently registers under Part 10;
(2) In respect of such a charge:
(a) the company or any other person interested in the charge may cause—
(i) a statement giving a short description of the nature of the instrument by which the charge was created, the property charged, the amount thereby secured, and the names of chargees or persons entitled to its benefit; or
(ii) a copy of the charge, to be lodged with the Registrar for filing within 42 days after the date on which the charge was created where the charge was created whilst the foreign company was registered under Part 10, and within 42 days after the registration of the foreign company under Part 10 where the charge was created prior to registration under Part 10; and
(b) the company shall give notice in writing to all other persons interested in the charge of the fact of the registration of the
company under Part 10, together with a copy of this section and such notice shall be given to such persons within 15 days of the
registration of the company under Part 10.
(3) Where, in relation to any charge to which this section applies:
(a) notice has been given to all persons interested in the charge under subsection (2)(b); and
(b) the charge is not filed with the Registrar under subsection (2)(a), the charge shall, so far as any security on the company’s
property is conferred thereby, and without prejudice to any contract or obligation for repayment of the money thereby secured, be
void against a liquidator and any creditor of the company.
(4) Where, in relation to any charge to which this section applies, notice is not given to all persons interested in the charge under
subsection (2)(b), the company and an officer in default commit an offence and are liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding
500 penalty units.
(5) Nothing in this section renders void any charge to which this section applies where notice has not been given by the company to all
other persons interested in the charge under subsection (2)(b).
74A. Negation of the rule in re Charge Card Services Limited – (1) Despite any rule of law to the contrary, any charge or security given, or purported to be given, by any person (“the chargor”) in favour of another person (“the chargee”) where:
(a) the charged property is or includes a debt due or to become due to the chargor from the chargee; and
(b) which debt if situated in Samoa is taken to be a charge over an asset and shall be as valid and enforceable to the same extent
as if the charge or security had been given over that debt in favour of any other person:
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), a debt is taken to be situated in Samoa if either:
(a) the chargor is an international company; or
(b) the chargee is an international company and—
(i) the contract or deed evidencing the debt has been entered into (by one or all of the parties) in Samoa; or
(ii) the contract or deed evidencing the debt is, or is to be, given effect to (whether in whole or in part) in Samoa.
(3) Nothing in this section is to be construed in any way to limit the validity or effect of:
(a) any contractual, legal or equitable right of set off arising between the parties (including any right of a bank and the rules relating to matters of account between parties); or
(b) any provision creating other rights, powers, obligations) or the imposition of restrictions on obligations between a debtor and
a creditor; and, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section is to be construed to require the giving of any charge or security
by the parties to any contract or deed.
(4) For the purposes of this section, any reference to a debt becoming due includes a reference to the following:
(a) a credit balance of an account (whether or not ascertained at any particular time);
(b) a contingent claim;
(c) proceeds and receivables due from time to time.
75. Register of charges to be kept by Registrar – (1) The Registrar shall keep a register of all the charges lodged for filing under this Division and shall enter in the register with respect to those charges the following particulars:
(a) in the case of a charge to the benefit of which the holders of a series of debentures are entitled, such particulars as are required to be contained in a statement provided under section 72(5);
(b) in the case of any other charge —
(i) if the charge is a charge created by an international company, the date of its creation and, if the charge was a charge existing on property acquired by an international company, the date of the acquisition of the property;
(ii) the amount secured by the charge;
(iii) a description sufficient to identify the property charged; and
(iv) the name of the person entitled to the charge.
(2) The Registrar shall upon payment of the prescribed fee issue a certificate of every charge filed stating, if applicable, the amount
secured by the charge and the certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements as to filing have been complied with.
76. Endorsement of certificate of registration on debentures – (1) An international company shall cause to be endorsed on a debenture forming one of a series of debentures, or certificate of debenture stock, which is issued by the company and the payment of which is secured by a charge so registered:
(a) a copy of the certificate of filing under section 75(2); or
(b) a statement that filing has been effected and the date of filing.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any debenture or certificate of debenture stock issued by an international company before the charge
was filed.
(3) A person who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the delivery of any debenture or certificate of debenture stock which is
not endorsed as required by this section commits an offence.
77. Filing of satisfaction and release of property from charge – (1) Where, with respect to a registered charge created by an international company:
(a) the debt for which the charge was given has been paid or satisfied in whole or in part; or
(b) the property or undertaking charged or any part thereof has been released from the charge or has ceased to form part of the company’s
property or undertaking, –
the company may lodge with the Registrar in the prescribed form a memorandum of satisfaction in whole or in part of the fact that
the property or undertaking or any part thereof has been released from the charge or has ceased to form part of the company’s
property or undertaking, as the case may be, and the Registrar shall file such memorandum and shall enter particulars of the same
in the register.
(2) The memorandum must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and supported by evidence sufficient to satisfy the Registrar of the payment,
satisfaction, release or ceasing referred to in subsection (1).
78. Extension of time and rectification of register of charges – The Registrar, on being satisfied that the omission to file a charge within the time required or that the omission or mis-statement of any particular with respect to any such charge or in any memorandum of satisfaction was accidental or due to inadvertence or to some other sufficient cause or is not of a nature to prejudice the position of creditors or shareholders or that, on other grounds, it is just and equitable to grant relief, may, on application lodged by the international company responsible for the omission or mis-statement or any person interested and on such terms and conditions as seem to the Registrar just and expedient, direct that the time for filing be extended or that the omission or mis-statement be rectified.
79. Documents made outside Samoa –Where under this Division an instrument, deed, statement or other document is required to be lodged with the Registrar within a specified time, the time so specified shall, by force of this section, in relation to an instrument, deed, statement or other document executed or made in a place outside Samoa, be extended by 28 days or such further period as the Registrar may from time to time allow.
80. Application of Division – (1) A reference in this Division to an international company shall be read as including a reference to a foreign company registered under
this Act, but nothing in this Division applies to a charge of a foreign company on property outside Samoa.
(2) Nothing in this Division requires a foreign company to file any charge until the foreign company is registered under Part 10.
PART 5
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Division 1 – Office and Name
81. Registered office of company – (1) An international company shall have a registered office in Samoa, which office shall be the principal office of a trustee company.
(2) Notice of the situation of the registered office of an international company shall be given in the prescribed form to the Registrar
at the time of incorporation of the company.
(2A) The trustee company providing the registered office for an international company may inform the Registrar, upon prior written notice
to the international company, that the trustee company no longer intends to provide the registered office for the international company.
(2B) Upon receipt of a notice from the trustee company under subsection (2A), the Registrar shall give notice to the international company,
at its last registered office, of the Registrar’s intention to strike off the name of the company from the register pursuant
to section 197, unless another registered office is appointed pursuant to subsection (3) within 1 month from the date thereof.
(3) Notice of any change in the situation of the registered office of an international company shall be given in the prescribed form
to the Registrar within 14 days of the change.
(4) Trustee companies shall display at their principal office in a conspicuous position and in letters easily legible the names of such
international companies as have their registered office at their address.
(5) If default is made in complying with this section, the company and an officer of the company who is in default commit an offence.
82. Publication of name – (1) The name of an international company shall appear in legible characters on:
(a) its seal (common seal, branch seal, share seal and any other authorised seal); and
(b) all business letters, statements of account, invoices, official notices, publications, bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements,
cheques, orders, receipts and letters of credit of or purporting to be issued or signed by or on behalf of the company, –
and, if default is made in complying with this subsection, the company commits an offence.
(2) Repealed by s46 of Act 1991, No.10.
Division 2 – Directors and Officers
83. Directors – (1) A trustee company may, where required by this Act or when requested in writing by an international company so to do, make available
an officer of the trustee company for appointment as a resident director of an international company.
(2) No person shall act or be appointed as a resident director of an international company other than an officer of a trustee company
made available for appointment by the trustee company pursuant to subsection (1).
(3) An international company shall have at least one director, who may be a resident director, and any casual vacancy in directors may,
so far as the articles do not otherwise provide, be filled by a person appointed by the continuing director or directors or, if there
be none, by the Registrar on a request being made by a member of the company.
(4) Subject to any contrary provisions in the international company’s articles, a director may be a company or a corporation and
such company or corporation may act by itself or through a nominee appointed in writing and may be appointed or act as a director
of more than one other company.
(5) A resident director shall not be subject to retirement but he or she may, upon agreement between the trustee company which makes
available the officer for appointment and the international company of which the resident is appointed a director, be replaced by
another officer of the trustee company at any time.
(6) A resident director is entitled to vote upon the resolution of the board of directors without disclosing his or her interest as director
of any other international company but subject to section 88.
(7) Notice received by a resident director of an international company is not taken to be notice to that company unless it is given to
the resident director specifically as notice to that company.
(8) A director or resident director of an international company:
(a) shall not disclose or use information he or she has obtained by reason of his or her office to any person or for any purpose except in accordance with his or her duty as a director of the company and so far as he or she may be compelled by law so to do; but
(b) may disclose to an appropriate public office in Samoa or otherwise use within Samoa only information coming to his or her knowledge
which he or she honestly believes suggests that a fraud is being or is likely to be practiced by the company or by any of its members
or directors or upon the company or any of its members.
(9) A person acting in contravention of the provisions of this Act relating to disclosure by a director or resident director commits
an offence.
(10) The fees of a resident director payable by an international company shall be paid to the trustee company which made available the
officer for appointment in Samoa in such manner and at such times as shall be agreed between the trustee company and the company.
(11) Repealed by s89 of Act 1991, No.10.
84. Restrictions on naming – A person shall not be named as a director or proposed director in the articles of a company, unless before the registration of the articles he or she has, by himself or herself or by his or her agent authorised in writing for the purpose, signed and caused to be lodged with the Registrar a consent in writing to act as a director.
85. Qualification of director – (1) A director who is by the articles of the company required to hold a specified share qualification and who is not already qualified,
shall obtain his or her qualification within 2 months after his or her appointment or such shorter period as is fixed by the articles;
and for the purposes of this section the bearer of a share warrant is taken not to be the holder of the shares specified in the warrant.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by the articles, the qualification shares of any director of an international company must be held by him
or her solely and not as one of the several joint holders.
(3) A resident director shall not be required to hold qualification shares despite anything contained in the articles.
(4) A director shall vacate his or her office if the director has not within the period referred to in subsection (1) obtained his or
her qualification shares or if after so obtaining it he or she ceases at any time to hold his or her qualification shares.
(5) A person vacating office under this section shall be incapable of being re-appointed as director until he or she has obtained his
or her qualification.
86. Validity of acts of directors – The act of a director or manager or secretary is valid despite any defect that may be discovered in his or her appointment or qualification.
87. Power to restrain certain persons from managing companies – (1) The Registrar may issue direction that a person who, in Samoa or elsewhere:
(a) has been convicted of an offence in connection with the promotion, formation or management of a corporation or company; or
(b) has been convicted of any acts involving fraud or dishonesty; or
(c) is an un-discharged bankrupt or insolvent, –
be disqualified from acting as a director or promoter of, or being in any way directly or indirectly concerned with, or taking part
in the management of an international company.
(2) An international company is thereafter not entitled to appoint or retain a person so disqualified as a director and a person so disqualified
who acts in contravention of that direction, without leave of the Court first had and obtained, as a director or promoter of, or
is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, concerned or takes part in the management of, an international company commits an
offence.
88. Disclosure of interest in contracts, property, offices, etc. – (1) Subject to this section, a director of the company who is any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed
contract with the company shall, as soon as practicable after the relevant facts have come to his or her knowledge, declare the nature
of his or her interest at a meeting of the directors of the company or cause to be circulated in writing to all the other directors
particulars of his or her interest.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in any case where the interest of the director of an international company consists only in being a
member or creditor of another international company which is interested in a contract or proposed contract with the first-mentioned
company if the interest of the director may properly be regarded as not being a material interest.
(3) For the purpose of this section, a resident director is taken to be interested in all contracts or proposed contracts with any international
company of which he or she is a director and to be exempt from any requirement of circulation of notice or declaration in writing;
and an oral declaration noted in the minutes is deemed sufficient compliance with subsection (1).
(4) Subject to any contrary provision in the articles of an international company, a director of the company is, for the purposes of
this section, taken not to be interested in or to have at any time been interested in, a contract or proposed contract, by reason
that the contract or proposed contract:
(a) has been or will be made with; or
(b) is for the benefit of; or
(c) is on behalf of, –
a company, which by virtue of section 4(5) is taken to be a related company, and that he or she is also a director of that company.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (1), a general notice given to the directors of an international company by a director to the effect
that the director is an officer or a member of a specified international company or a member of a specified firm and is to be regarded
as interested in any contract which may, after the date of the notice, be made with that company or firm, is taken to be a sufficient
declaration of interest in relation to any contract so made, but no such notice shall be of effect unless either it is given at a
meeting of the directors or the director takes reasonable steps to ensure it is brought up and read at the next meeting of the directors
after it is given.
(6) If the articles of an international company so require,a director of that company who holds any office or possesses any property whereby,
whether directly or indirectly, duties or interests might be created in conflict with his or her duties or interests as director,
shall declare at a meeting of the directors of the company or cause to be circulated in writing to the other directors the fact and
the nature, character and extent of the conflict:
PROVIDED THAT this subsection does not apply to a resident director unless the articles of the company otherwise provide.
(7) The declaration shall be made at the first meeting of the directors held:
(a) after he or she becomes a director; or
(b) if already a director, after the director commences to hold the office or to possess the property, as the case requires, –
whether or not it has been already circulated in writing.
(8) A declaration under this section shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which it was made.
(9) Where:
(a) any contract is entered into in contravention of this section; and
(b) any party to that contract cannot establish on the balance of probabilities that he or she did not have actual knowledge or suspect
at the time of entering the contract that the contract was entered into by any other party in contravention of the provisions of
this section, –
then the contract is voidable at the absolute discretion of the company as against that party and all of the profits earned or derived
by that party from the contract shall be payable to the company together with such other compensation as a Court may think just
in the circumstances.
(10) Repealed by s47 of Act 1991, No.10.
89. Code for the establishment of liabilities of officers – (1) An officer of an international company shall at all times act for a proper purpose and honestly in what he or she believes are the
best interests of the international company.
(2) An officer of an international company shall not make improper use of his or her position as an officer to gain, directly or indirectly,
an advantage for himself or herself or for any other person or to cause detriment to the international company.
(3) An officer of an international company is obliged to use such diligence as might reasonably be expected of a person of his or her
knowledge and experience in the performance of his or her duties as such an officer, having regard to the requirements and business
activities of the international company.
(4) Nothing in this section precludes:
(a) the right of an international company to impose, in its articles or by contract, obligations and duties on its officers in addition to the obligations and duties imposed in this section; and
(b) the right of the members of an international company to ratify by special resolution the conduct of the officers notwithstanding that any such conduct may contravene this section or the memorandum and articles; and
(c) an international company entering into a contract of insurance or indemnity or any other similar contractual obligation with or
for the benefit or any officer.
(5) Notwithstanding that the obligations and duties of the officers of an international company are owed to the company, the company and
any other person affected by any breach of those duties and liabilities may commence any civil proceedings against the officer:
PROVIDED THAT, in the case of any proceedings commenced by any person other than the company:
(a) the Court is satisfied that a prima facie case exists against the officers; and
(b) the person commencing the proceedings pays into Court such amount determined by the Court as security for the costs and
(c) expenses of any other party to the proceedings; and
(d) any net financial benefit derived from such proceedings shall be payable to the company.
89A. Limitation of liability of officers – (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, no relevant person shall in the performance of any obligations, duties, services or other activities for or on behalf of an international company:
(a) be liable for any penalty under this Act other than where such penalty arises by reason of the wilful misconduct, wilful default or wilful neglect of the relevant person; or
(b) incur any tortious liability arising otherwise than by reason of the wilful misconduct, wilful default or wilful neglect of the relevant person, unless the articles of the company provide for such liability; or
(c) be liable for any breach of trust or other equitable obligation other than where the relevant person had actual knowledge of and knowingly assisted in such breach, unless the articles of the company provide for such liability; or
(d) in the absence of wilful misconduct wilful default or wilful neglect, incur any liability (whether tortious, contractual, equitable
or otherwise) by reason only that the company incurs any debts or obligations or continues to carry on business at a time when the
company is unable to meet its obligations to its creditors as they fall due.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), no inference is to be made as to the knowledge of a relevant person by reason of any failure
to make inquiries in relation to the activities of the company or the source of any of the funds or assets received by the company
or by reason of upholding any obligation as to confidentiality provided by this Act.
(3) In this section, “relevant person” means any of the following:
(a) a resident director;
(b) a resident secretary;
(c) a resident agent;
(d) a trustee company, a subsidiary of a trustee company and any officer thereof;
(e) a nominee or representative of any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d);
(f) any person acting on the institutions or under the authority (whether general or specific) of any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
90. Secretary and agents – (1) An international company shall appoint a secretary. The secretary may be a resident secretary. More than one secretary may be appointed
and if a resident secretary is appointed there may be additional secretaries that are not resident secretaries. Any international
company that does not appoint a resident secretary shall appoint a resident agent.
(2) Secretaries, including resident secretaries, and resident agents may be a company or corporation.
(3) When requested in writing by an international company to make available a resident secretary or a resident agent, a trustee company
shall either accept appointment as resident secretary or resident agent, as the case may be, of that company or make available for
appointment an officer of the trustee company or a wholly owned subsidiary thereof.
(4) No person shall act or be appointed as a resident secretary or a resident agent other than a trustee company, an officer of a trustee
company, or a wholly owned subsidiary thereof pursuant to subsection (3).
(5) Subject to subsection (6), the resident secretary of an international company or, in the case where no resident secretary is appointed,
the secretary is responsible for:
(a) compliance by the international company with the requirements of this Act in relation to the lodging of all documents with the Registrar; and
(b) the maintenance of the company’s record; and
(c) dealing with the communications addressed to the company at its registered office or elsewhere.
(5A) A resident agent shall also be responsible for dealing with communications addressed to the company at its registered office.
(6) An officer of a trustee company appointed pursuant to subsection (3) is entitled:
(a) of his or her own motion to obtain the assistance of the trustee company of which he or she is an officer or a barrister or a solicitor in the interpretation of documents; and
(b) by himself or herself or his or her agent to have access to such information as is required to make and complete the same and
to provide such information relating to the affairs of the company to the trustee company or a barrister or a solicitor for that
purpose.
(7) An international company shall forthwith pay any costs, charges and expenses incurred on its behalf by the resident secretary or
the resident agent, as the case may be, in relation to any matters to be done under this Act.
(8) The remuneration of the resident secretary or the resident agent, as the case may be, of an international company shall:
(a) be fixed by agreement between the company and the trustee company which is, or has provided the officer who is, the resident secretary or the resident agent, as the case may be; and
(b) be paid in such a manner and at a time as agreed between the trustee company and the international company; and
(c) be a charge upon the assets of the international company ranking in priority next after the fees owing by the international company
to the Registrar.
(9) A secretary and a resident agent of an international company shall be appointed by the directors of the company.
91. Register of directors and secretaries – (1) An international company shall keep at its registered office in Samoa, a register of its directors, and secretaries.
(2) The register shall contain with respect to each director, in the case of an individual, his or her present surname and any former
surname and his or her present other names and any former other names and his or her usual residential address or in the case of
a company, the company's full name, the address of its registered office and the names of its authorised nominees and representatives
in Samoa, if any.
(3) The register shall contain with respect to each secretary, in the case of an individual, his or her present surname and any former
surname and his or her present other names and any former other names and his or her usual residential address or in the case of
a company, the full name of the company, the address of its registered office and the names of its authorised nominees and representatives
in Samoa, if any.
(4) The register kept by an international company shall be open to the inspection of any director, member and auditor of the company
without charge.
(5) An international company to which this subsection applies shall lodge with the Registrar:
(a) within 1 month after incorporation, a return in the prescribed form containing in relation to its directors, resident directors and secretaries the particulars set out in subsections (2) and (3); and
(b) within 1 month after a person named in a return ceased to be a director, a resident director or secretary of the company, a return in the prescribed form notifying the Registrar of the change and containing with respect to each then director resident director and secretary of the company the particulars set out in subsections (2) and (3) and the date of cessation; and
(c) within 1 month after a person becomes a director, resident director or a secretary of the company, a return in the prescribed
form notifying the Registrar of that fact and containing the particulars set out in subsections (2) and (3) and the date of appointment.
(5A) Subsection (5) applies only to international companies that have so elected by notice in writing to the Registrar and have not rescinded
that election by subsequent notice in writing to the Registrar.
(6) If default is made by an international company in complying with any provision of this section, the company and an officer of the
company who is knowingly in default commits an offence.
(7) A certificate of the Registrar stating that from any return lodged with the Registrar pursuant to this section it appears that at
any time specified in the certificate any person was a director, manager or secretary of a specified international company to which
this subsection applies shall, in all courts and by all persons having power to take evidence of the facts stated therein and for
the purposes of this Act, be received as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(8) For the purposes subsection (7), a person who appears from any return so lodged to be a director, manager or secretary of a company
is taken to continue as such until by a subsequent return so lodged or by a notification of charge in the prescribed form so lodged
it appears that the person has ceased to be such a director, manager or secretary.
Division 3
Meetings and Proceedings
92. Annual general meeting – (1) An international company, shall at such times as are in this section prescribed, in addition to any other meetings hold in each calendar year a meeting to be called and described in the notice calling such meeting as the Annual General Meeting of the company and that meeting shall be held:
(a) in the case of the first such meeting, within a period of 18 months after the date of the incorporation of the company concerned; and
(b) thereafter—
(i) within not more than 6 months after the end of every ensuing financial year of the company; or
(ii) within not more than 15 months after the legally due date of the last preceding such meeting of that company whichever is the
later of the 2 dates.
(2) The annual general meeting of an international company shall deal with and dispose of the matters prescribed by this Act and may
deal with and dispose of such further matters as are provided for in the articles of the company and, subject to the provisions of
this Act, any matter capable of being dealt with by any general meeting of the company.
(3) The Registrar may, on application made by an international company in accordance with a resolution of the directors and signed by
a director or secretary, and on good cause shown, subject to such conditions as the Registrar thinks fit on payment of the prescribed
fee, extend that period by a period not exceeding 6 months, but despite any such extension, the date for the holding of the first
annual general meeting following the meeting in respect of which the extension is granted shall be determined as if such meeting
had been held on the last day on which it should have been held if the extension had not been granted.
(4) Subject to notice being given to all persons entitled to receive notice of the meeting, a general meeting may be held at any time
and the company may resolve that any meeting held or summoned to be held shall be the annual general meeting of the company.
(5) If default is made in holding an annual general meeting under this section or in complying with any conditions of the Registrar under
section (3):
(a) the international company and an officer of the company who is in default commit of an offence; and
(b) the Registrar may on the application of any member direct a general meeting to be called.
(6) Despite any other provision of this Act, an international company need not:
(a) hold any particular annual general meeting if all members entitled to attend that meeting agree thereto in writing, and in such event a resolution in writing dealing with—
(i) the matters required by this Act to be dealt with and disposed of at an annual general meeting of an international company; and
(ii) such other matters, if any, as may in terms of subsection (2) be dealt with at such a meeting, and which is signed by all members entitled to vote at that meeting, before the expiration of the period within which that meeting is to be held, is taken to be a resolution passed at an annual general meeting of the company held in terms of this section on the date on which the last signature to such resolution is affixed; or
(b) hold any annual general meetings if all the members of the company at any time agree thereto in writing, and in such a case none
of the matters required by this Act to be dealt with and disposed of at an annual general meeting of an international company shall
apply:
PROVIDED THAT if any member of the company by notice in writing to the company requires future annual general meetings to be held, such meetings
shall be held within 3 months of the receipt of the notice by the company.
93. Convening of extraordinary general meetings on requisition – (1) The directors of an international company shall, despite anything in its articles, on the requisition of members holding at the date
of the deposit of the requisition not less than one tenth of such of the paid-up capital as at the date of the deposit carries the
right of voting at meetings of the company forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the company, to be held
as soon as practicable, but in any case not later than 2 months after the receipt by the company of the requisition.
(2) The requisition shall state the objects of the meeting and shall be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered
office of the company in Samoa and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.
(3) If the directors do not within 21 days after the date of the deposit of the requisition proceed to convene a meeting, the requisitionists,
or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them may themselves, in the same manner as nearly
as possible as that in which meeting are to be convened by directors, convene a meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be
held after the expiration of 3 months from the date of deposit of the requisition.
(4) Any reasonable expenses incurred by the requisition by reason of the failure of the directors of an international company to convene
the meeting shall be paid to the requisitionists by the company, and any sum so paid shall be retained by the company out of any
sums due or to become due from the company by way of fees or other remunerations in respect of their services to such of the directors
as were in default.
(5) A meeting at which a special resolution is to be proposed is treated not to be duly convened by the directors if they do not give
such notice thereof as is required by this Act in the case of special resolutions.
94. Calling of meetings – (1) So far as the articles of an international company do not make other provision in that behalf, any member holding not less than one-tenth
in numbers or par value of the issued shares may call a meeting of the company.
(2) A meeting of an international company or of a class of members, other than a meeting for the passing of a special resolution, shall
be called by notice in writing of not less than 14 days or a longer period provided in the articles.
(3) A meeting is, even if it is called by notice shorter than is required by subsection (2), taken to be duly called if it is so agreed:
(a) for a meeting called as an annual general meeting, by all members entitled to attend and vote thereat; or
(b) for any other meeting, by a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote thereat, being a majority which
together holds in aggregate not less than 75% of the total votes of all members entitled to vote.
(4) So far as the articles do not make other provision in that behalf, notice of a meeting shall:
(a) be served on a member holding registered shares and having a right to attend and vote thereat in the manner in which notices are required to be served by Table A; and
(b) for members holding bearer shares, be given or taken to have been given, if it is given in the manner specified in the articles, or if the articles do not make provisions for such notice, then—
(i) where the member has advised the company of an address for service of notice, be given or taken to have been given, if it is posted to the member at that address, or
(ii) where the member has not advised the company of an address for service of notice, be given or taken to have been given, if it
is published in a newspaper circulated in Samoa or in the place where the company has its principal office.
(4A) So far as the articles of an international company do not otherwise provide, members holding bearer shares shall be given sufficient
notice of meetings of members to allow them a reasonable opportunity to take action to secure or exercise the right or privilege
which is the subject of the notice.
(4B) For the purposes of subsection (4A), what constitutes sufficient notice is a matter of fact to be determined after having regard to
all the circumstances.
(5) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by, any member shall not invalidate
proceedings at a meeting.
(6) Anything that may be done by an international company by resolution or special resolution passed at a meeting of that company may,
subject to any special provisions in that behalf in the articles of the company, be done without a meeting and without any previous
notice of the resolution being required, by means of a resolution in writing signed by not less than three-fourths of the members
entitled to vote thereon; and the resolution:
(a) is taken to be as valid as if passed at a meeting duly held under this Act and with the articles of that company;
(b) may be contained in the one instrument or in several instruments in like form.
95. Articles as to right to demand a poll – (1) Any provision contained in the articles of an international company is void in so far as it would have the effect:
(a) of excluding the right to demand a poll at a meeting of the company on any question or matter other than the election of the chairperson of the meeting or the adjournment of the meeting; or
(b) of making ineffective a demand for a poll on any question or matter other than the election of the chairperson of the meeting or the adjournment of the meeting that is made—
(i) by not less than 5 members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(ii) by a member or members representing not less than one tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(c) of requiring the instrument appointing a proxy or any other document necessary to show the validity of, or otherwise relating
to, the appointment of a proxy to be received by the company or any other person more than 4 days before a meeting or adjourned meeting
in order that the appointment may be effective thereat.
(2) The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting of an international company is taken to confer authority to demand or join
in demanding a poll and for the purposes of subsection (1) a demand by a person as proxy for a member of the company is taken to
be the same as a demand by the member.
96. Quorum, chairman voting, etc. at meeting – (1) So far as the articles of an international company do not make other provisions in that behalf, where a company has more than one member and two or more members are present, the members of the company shall be a quorum, and at a meeting:
(a) a member elected by those members may be chairperson thereof; and
(b) a member shall have one vote in respect of each share held by him or her.
(2) On a poll taken at a meeting a person entitled to more than one vote need not, if the person votes, use all his or her votes or cast
all the votes he or she uses in the same way.
(3) An international company may by resolution of its directors or other governing body:
(a) if it is a member of a company, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative either at a particular meeting or at all meetings of the company or of any class of members; or
(b) if it is a creditor, including a holder of debentures, of an international company, authorise such person as it thinks fit to
act as its representative either at a particular meeting or at all meetings of any creditors of the company, and a person so authorised
is, in accordance with his or her authority and until his or her authority is revoked by the company, entitled to exercise the same
powers on behalf of the company as the company could exercise if it were an individual member, creditor or holder of debentures of
the company.
(4) Unless the articles of an international company otherwise provide:
(a) any meeting may be held by radio, telephone, closed circuit television or other electronic means of audio or audio visual communication; and
(b) the presence of one person may constitute a meeting.
(4A) In this section, “meeting” has the same meaning as in section 215.
97. Proxies – (1) A member of an international company entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the company or at a meeting of any class of member of the company may:
(a) in accordance with the articles of the company;
(b) Repealed by s55 of Act 1991, No.10.
appoint another person, whether a member or not, as his or her proxy to attend and vote instead of the member at a meeting and a proxy
so appointed shall have the same right as a member to speak at the meeting.
(2) Any number of shareholders of an international company may create a voting trust for the purpose of conferring upon a trustee company
the right to vote or otherwise represent their shares, for a period not exceeding 10 years:
(a) by entering into a written voting trust;
(b) by depositing a counterpart of the agreement with the company at its registered office; and
(c) by lodging their shares with the trustee company for the purposes of the agreement, –
and the counterpart of the voting trust agreement so deposited with the company shall:
(aa) be subject to the same right of examination by a shareholder of the company, in person or by agent, or lawyer, as are the books and records of the company; and
(bb) be subject to examination by any holder of a beneficial interest in the voting trust, either in person or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time for any proper purpose.
98. Power of Registrar to direct meetings to be called –(1) If for any reason it is impracticable to call a meeting in any manner in which meetings may be called or to conduct the meeting in the manner prescribed by the articles or this Act, the Registrar may:
(a) on an application lodged on behalf of any director or of any member who would be entitled to vote at the meeting, direct a meeting to be called, held and conducted in such manner as the Registrar thinks fit; and
(a) give such ancillary or consequential directions as he or she thinks expedient.
(2) A meeting called, held and conducted under subsection (1) is, for all purposes, taken to be a meeting duly called, held and conducted.
99. Special resolution – (1) A resolution shall be a special resolution:
(a) when it has been passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of such members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person; or
(b) where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which not less than 21 days’ notice specifying the intention
to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given.
(2) Despite subsection (1), if it is so agreed by a majority in number of the members having the right to vote at the meeting, being a
majority which together holds in aggregate not less than 75% of the total votes of the members entitled to vote, a resolution maybe
proposed and passed as a special resolution at a meeting of which less than 21 days’ notice has been given.
(3) At any meeting at which a special resolution is submitted, a declaration of the chairperson, shall be conclusive evidence of the
fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.
(4) At any meeting at which a special resolution is submitted, a poll is taken to be effectively demanded if demanded:
(a) by such member or members for the time being entitled under the articles to vote at the meeting as is specified in the articles, but it shall not in any case be necessary for more than 5 members to make the demand; or
(b) if no such provision is made by the articles, by 3 members so entitled, or by 1 member or 2 members so entitled, if that member
holds or those 2 members together hold not less than 10% of the shares of the international company.
(5) In computing the majority on a poll demanded on the question that a special resolution be passed, reference shall be had to the number
of votes cast for and against the question and to the number of votes to which each member is entitled by the Act or the articles,
the international company.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a meeting is taken to be duly held when the notice is given and the meeting held in any manner
provided by this Act or by the articles.
(7) If the articles of an international company so provide, a resolution in writing signed by not less than three-fourths of such members
as are entitled to vote is taken to be and shall be as valid as a special resolution as one passed at a general meeting in accordance
with subsection (1).
100. Resolution requiring special notice – (1) Where by this Act special notice is required of the intention to move a resolution, the resolution shall not be effective unless:
(a) notice of the intention to move it has been given to the international company not less than 42 days before the meeting at which it is moved; and
(b) the company gives its members—
(i) notice of any such resolution at the same
time and in the same manner as it gives
notice of the meeting under paragraph (a); or
(ii) if that is not practicable, notice thereof in any manner allowed by the articles not less than 14 days before the meeting.
(2) However, if after notice of the intention to move such resolution has been given to the company, a meeting is called for a date 42
days or less after the notice has been given, the notice, although not given to the company within the time required by this section,
is taken to be properly given.
101. Repealed by s57 of Act 1991, No.10.
102. Resolution at adjourned meetings – Where a resolution is passed at an adjourned meeting of an international company or of holders of any class of shares or of directors, the resolution is for all purposes, treated as having been passed on the date on which it was in fact passed and not on any earlier date.
103. Minutes of proceedings – (1) An international company shall cause:
(a) minutes of all proceedings of general meetings and of proceedings of its directors to be entered in books kept for that purpose; and
(b) those minutes to be signed by the chairperson of the meeting at which the proceedings were held, or by the chairperson of the
next succeeding meeting or by one of the directors who was a party to the proceedings.
(2) Any minute so entered that purports to be signed as provided in subsection (1) is prima facie evidence of the proceedings to which it relates.
(3) The minute books of an international company shall be kept at the registered office of the company or such other place as the directors
determine. Where the minute books are not kept at the registered office any person entitled to inspect such minute books may apply
to the Registrar for an order that a copy of such minute books be made available at the registered office and in the event of the
Registrar so ordering the company shall comply with the order within 28 days of receiving notice of the order.
(4) Where minutes have been so entered and signed, then until the contrary is proved:
(a) the meeting is taken to have been duly held and convened; and
(b) all proceedings recorded as having taken place at the meeting are taken to have been duly had; and
(c) all appointments of officers or liquidators recorded as having been made at the meeting are taken to be valid.
(5) Where the articles permit a resolution to be passed otherwise than at a meeting if assented to in writing by the person specified
in the articles, the document containing such assent shall be entered in the minute book.
(6) If default is made by an international company in complying with this section, the company and an officer of the company who is in
default commit an offence.
104. Inspection of minute book – (1) Subject to such reasonable restrictions as the Registrar may approve, the books containing the minutes of proceedings of any meetings
of an international company kept by the company at its registered office in Samoa and elsewhere, and the minutes of proceedings of
any meeting of members, shall be open for inspection by any member without charge.
(2) A member of an international company is entitled to be provided , within 14 days after he or she has made a request in writing in
that behalf to the company, with a copy of any minute of proceedings at a general meeting at a charge not exceeding the amount prescribed
by the Registrar.
(3) If any copy required under this section is not so provided by an international company, the company and an officer of the company
who is in default commit an offence.
Division 4 – Register of Members
105. Register and index of members – (1) An international company shall keep a register of its members and enter therein the following:
(a) the names and addresses of the members;
(b) the date on which the name of each person was entered in the register as a member;
(c) the date on which any person who ceased to be a member during the previous 7 years so ceased to be a member;
(d) for a company limited by shares or a company limited by both shares and guarantee—
(i) a statement of the shares held by each member, distinguishing each share its number, if any, of the certificate evidencing the member’s holding and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on the shares of each member; and
(ii) the date of every allotment of shares to members and the number of shares comprised in each allotment;
(e) for a company limited by guarantee or a company limited by both shares and guarantee, a statement of the amount specified in the memorandum which each member has undertaken to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up;
(f) for shares issued to bearer, the total number of each class and series of shares issued to bearer; and with respect to each certificate for shares issued to bearer—
(i) the identifying number of the certificate;
(ii) the class or series of shares issued to bearer specified therein; and
(iii) the date of issue of the certificate.
(2) The register of members is prima facie evidence of any matter inserted therein as required or authorised by this Act.
(3) If default is made in complying with this section by an international company, the company and an officer of the company who is in
default commit an offence.
106. Where register to be kept – (1) The register of members of an international company shall be kept at the registered office of the company or such other place as the
directors determine.
(2) Where the register of members is not kept at the registered office, a copy of the register shall be maintained at the registered
office, within 6 months of the date of incorporation.
(3) Despite subsection (2), an international company registered prior to the commencement date of the International Companies Amendment Act 2008, shall be allowed a period of 6 months from the date to comply with this section.
(4) If default is made by an international company in complying with this section, the company and an officer of the company who is knowingly
in default commit an offence.
107. Inspection and closing of register – (1) An international company may, on giving not less than 21 days’ notice by advertisement in such manner as the articles provide
or in default of such provision in such manner as the Registrar may approve, close the register of members or any class of members
for any time or times, but so that no part of the register shall be closed for more than 30 days in the aggregate in any year.
(2) The register shall be open to the inspection of any member for the purposes of inspection of the particulars of that member’s
shareholding contained therein but no member shall be entitled to inspect the particulars of any other member or of the shareholding
of that other member without the consent in writing of that other member first had and obtained (or in the case of any company making
a public offering of any debt or equity security as may be provided for in the articles of that international company). Any inspection
by a member shall be without charge.
(3) Subject to subsection (2), any member of an international company may request the company to provide him or her with a copy of the
register, or of any part thereof, but only so far as it relates to names, addresses, number of shares held and where applicable amounts
paid on shares, or payment in advance of the amount prescribed from time to time by the Registrar or such lesser sum as the company
requires for every 200 words or part thereof required to be copied and the company shall cause any copy so requested by any person
to be sent to that person within a period of 30 days or within such further period as the Registrar considers reasonable in the circumstances
commencing on the day next after the day on which the request is received by the company.
(4) If a copy so requested of an international company is not sent within the period specified in subsection (3), the company and an
officer of the company who is in default commit an offence.
108. Repealed by s61 of Act 1991, No.10.
109. Power of Registrar to rectify register – (1) If, in relation to an international company:
(a) the name of any person is, without sufficient cause, entered in or omitted from the register; or
(b) default is made or unnecessary delay takes place in entering in the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member,
the person aggrieved or any member of the company may lodge an application with the Registrar for rectification of the register,
and the Registrar may refuse the application or may direct rectification of the register and payment by the company of any damages
sustained by any party to the application and may direct the company or any party to bear the costs and expenses of, and incidental
to, the application.
(2) On an application lodged under subsection (1), the Registrar may decide:
(a) any question relating to the right or title of any person who is a party to the application to have his or her name entered in or omitted from the register, whether the question arises between members or alleged members of an international company on the one hand and the company on the other hand; and
(b) generally, any question necessary or expedient to decide for the rectification of the register.
110. Limitation of liability of trustee etc. registered as owner of shares – (1) A trustee, executor or administrator of an estate of a deceased person who was registered in a register or branch register kept in
Samoa as the holder of a share in an international company may become registered as the holder of the share in his or her capacity
as trustee, executor or administrator of the estate, and shall, in respect of that share, enjoy the same rights and be subject to
the same liabilities as the deceased person while the deceased person was registered as holder of the share.
(2) A trustee, executor or administrator of an estate of a deceased person who was equitably entitled to a share in an international
company, being a share registered in a register or branch register kept in Samoa:
(a) may, with the consent of the company and of the registered holder of the share, become registered as the holder of that share in his or her capacity as trustee, executor or administrator of the estate; and
(b) shall, in respect of the share, enjoy the same rights and be subject to the same liabilities as the deceased person would have
been subject to if the share had been registered in the name of the deceased person.
(3) Shares in an international company registered in a register kept in Samoa or in a branch register and held by a trustee in respect
of a particular trust may, with the consent of the company, be marked in the register or branch register in such a way as to identify
them as being held in respect of the trust.
(4) Except as provided in this section, no notice of any trust express, constructive or implied shall be entered on the register or branch
register and no liabilities shall be affected by anything done in pursuance of subsections (1), (2) and (3) and the company concerned
shall not be affected with notice of any trust by anything so done.
111. Branch registers – (1) An international company may cause to be kept in any place outside of Samoa a branch register of members.
(2) A branch register shall be kept in the same manner in which the principal register is, by this Act, required to be kept.
(3) The shares registered in a branch register may be distinguished from shares registered in the principal register, and any dealing
with a share on a branch register shall be noted in that register.
(4) An international company which keeps a branch register outside of Samoa may discontinue the branch register and thereupon all entries
in that register shall be transferred to some other branch register kept by the company or to the principal register.
(5) If by virtue of the law in force in any other country, a company incorporated under that law keeps in Samoa a branch register of
its members, the provisions of this Act relating to inspection, place of keeping and rectification of the register of members shall
apply to and in relation to any such register kept in Samoa as they apply to and in relation to the registers of international companies
under this Act and thereupon those provisions apply accordingly.
Division 5 – Annual Return - Repealed
112. Repealed by s63 of Act 1991, No.10.
PART 6
ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
Division 1
Accounts
113. Accounts to be kept – (1) An international company must keep accounting records and such records should:
(a) correctly explain all transactions;
(b) enable the financial position of the international company to be determined with reasonable accuracy at any time;
(c) enable the directors to check that any accounts prepared by the international company under this part complies with the requirements of this Act;
(d) allow financial statements to be prepared;
(e) include underlying documentation, such as invoices, contracts and so forth;
(f) reflect the following details —
(i) all sums of money received and expended and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place;
(ii) all sales and purchases and other transactions; and
(iii) the assets and liabilities of the relevant entity or arrangement.
(1A) An international company must retain all the accounts and records referred to in subsection (1) for 7 years after the end of the financial year or accounting period to which they relate.
(1B) An international company that contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) or (1A) commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) The accounts of an international company shall be kept at the registered office of the company or at such other place as the directors
think fit and shall at all times be open to inspection by any director.
(3) The Registrar may in any particular case direct that the accounting and other records of an international company be open to inspection
by a registered company auditor acting for a director, but only upon an undertaking in writing given to the Registrar that information
acquired by the auditor during his or her inspection shall not be disclosed by him or her except to that director.
(4) A person who, being a director of an international company, fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance by the company
with the requirements of this section, sections 114 and 115 or, a resident director has by his or her own wilful act been the cause
of any default by the company thereunder commits an offence.
114. Accounts to be laid before meeting or circulated – (1) At any meeting of an international company at which a member so requires, the directors shall;
(a) lay before the meeting a profit and loss account of the company and a balance sheet thereof made up to date not more than 12 months before the date of the meeting; or,
(b) at an adjournment of the meeting held not later than 2 months thereafter, lay before such adjourned meeting a profit and loss
account and balance sheet made up to the original date of the meeting, or such other more remote date not being more than 6 months
before the original date of the meeting as the Registrar upon application lodged with him or her may fix.
(2) In the case of an international company the articles of which require that a dividend be declared only upon a resolution of members,
a member may before the passing of any such resolution:
(a) at a meeting at which he or she is present in person or by proxy; and
(b) by notice in writing served at the registered office of the company in Samoa, –
require that a balance sheet and profit and loss account made up to a date not earlier than 2 months before the date of a resolution
declaring a dividend be circulated to members and thereupon no such resolution shall be passed until 21 days after circulation thereof.
(3) A balance sheet or profit and loss account of an international company laid before a meeting or sent to members shall be accompanied
by all documents required by this Act to be attached thereto.
(4) A balance sheet under this section shall state the following, in addition to any other information included therein:
(a) the share capital constituted by—
(i) shares having a par value; and
(ii) shares having no par value;
(b) the classes of shares, their respective number and nominal value, into which the share capital constituted by shares having a par value have been divided and in the case of shares of no par value the number of such shares;
(c) the number of the issued shares and the amount of the issued share capital in respect of each class of shares;
(d) the stated capital account, setting out the preliminary expenses, commission and expenses of issue of no par value shares charged against that account during the accounting period.
115. Statement of accounts – The accounts of an international company may be prepared in accordance with such generally accepted accounting principles as may be directed by the members in general meeting or as may be provided for in the articles, or, in the absence of such direction or provision, as may be determined by the directors.
Division 2 – Audit
116. Auditor to be appointed – (1) Subject to section 117, the directors of an international company shall within 90 days of its incorporation, appoint a registered
company auditor to be the auditor of that company and that auditor shall hold office until the expiration of the audit period expiring
next after 18 months from the time of incorporation.
(2) At the conclusion of his or her first term of office, the auditor, if willing and eligible, shall be reappointed for a further 2
audit periods.
(3) No person shall be appointed to be, or to act as, the auditor of an international company without his or her prior written consent.
(4) An international company shall, whenever it appoints an auditor, lodge with the Registrar within 30 days of the appointment a notice
thereof in the prescribed form accompanied by the auditor’s written consent.
117. Auditor need not be appointed in certain circumstances – An international company need not appoint an auditor of the company if:
(a) the articles of the company so provide; or
(b) all the members of the company agree in writing that such an appointment should not be made; or
(c) at each annual general meeting of the company all the members present in person or by proxy resolve that such an appointment should not be made.
118. Appointment and removal of auditors – (1) Subject to sections 116 and 117, an international company shall appoint a registered company auditor to be the auditor of the company
for such period as the company may determine upon the previous auditor ceasing to hold office.
(2) An international company may, at a general meeting of which notice has been given to the auditor not less than 28 days before the
date of the meeting, remove an auditor from office.
(3) Subject to section 117, where an auditor is removed, the international company shall at the meeting at which the auditor is removed
or at a general meeting held within one month thereafter, appoint a registered company auditor to take the place of the auditor so
removed.
119. Auditor ceasing to be registered – (1) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs, or the directors otherwise resolve, if an auditor ceases to be a registered company auditor,
he or she shall continue to hold office as auditor of an international company until completion of the audit work for the audit period
during which he or she ceased to be a registered company auditor.
(2) Where an auditor ceases to be registered and does not continue in office as auditor of an international company under subsection
(1), the company shall immediately appoint another registered company auditor at a fee to be fixed by agreement between that other
auditor and the directors and that other auditor shall be the auditor of the company for the purposes of this Act for the period
then current and, subject to making proper appraisal and review of the work of the auditor ceasing to be registered, such other auditor
shall be entitled to use and rely upon the work of the first-mentioned auditor done up to the time of the appointment of the new
auditor.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (2),it is an implied term of every contract between an international company and its auditor that the
auditor shall make available to another auditor taking office either instead of or in addition to the first-mentioned auditor during
the course of an audit period all working papers relating to the affairs of the company made and kept by the first-mentioned auditor
during his tenure of office.
120. Term of office when auditor ceases to be registered – An auditor appointed in addition to or in place of an auditor ceasing to hold office as a registered company auditor shall hold office during the period for which the auditor so ceasing would have held office had he not so ceased.
121. Partners of auditors – Where a registered company auditor is a member of a partnership carrying on the practice of accountants and auditors and one or more members of that partnership is or are the auditors of an international company, another member of such partnership being a registered company auditor may, if the directors so resolve, be substituted as auditor of the company for the auditor ceasing to be registered with the written consent of the substitute auditor.
122. Remuneration of auditor – The fees and expenses of an auditor of an international company may be fixed by the directors unless the auditor requires such fees and expenses to be fixed by a resolution of the members of the company.
123. Auditor may attend meetings – An auditor of an international company is entitled to attend and address all meetings of members of the company.
124. Auditor to audit – (1) An auditor of an international company shall carry out an audit in respect thereof in each audit period.
(2) An auditor shall report to the members as to his or her audit and matters disclosed thereby and as to every balance sheet and profit
and loss account and as to any other accounts put before the members.
(3) An auditor shall give such further reports and information as are required by regulations made under this Act.
125. Powers of auditors – An auditor shall obtain such information and explanations in relation to the affairs of the international company of which he or she is auditor and of any other company which by virtue of section 4(5) is taken to be a related company as he or she reasonably requires to complete his or her audit and the company shall take all proper steps to ensure that he or she is able to obtain such information and explanations and to have access to such books and records as he or she requires for his or her audit.
126. Powers, duties and obligations of auditors – The powers, duties and obligations of auditors provided by this Act are in addition to any powers, duties and obligations specified in the articles of an international company and all auditors are entitled to be provided a copy of such articles and shall be required to make themselves acquainted with the terms thereof.
PART 7
ARRANGEMENTS AND RECONSTRUCTIONS
127. Power to compromise with creditors and members – (1) In this section, except in so far as the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires:
“arrangement” includes a re-organisation of the share capital of an international company by the consolidation of shares of difference classes or by the division of different classes or by both those methods;
“company” means any international company liable to be wound up under this Act.
(2) Where a compromise or arrangement is proposed between a company and its creditors, or any class of them or between the company and
its members or any class of them the Registrar on an application being lodged by the company or by any creditor or member of the
company, or, in the case of a company being wound up, by the liquidator, accompanied by the prescribed fee may direct a meeting of
the creditors or a class of creditors or of members of the company or a class of members to be summoned in such manner as he or she
may direct.
(3) If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors or members or class of members
present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting agrees to any compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement
if approved by direction of the Registrar or, in the case of companies being wound up compulsorily, by the Court, shall be binding
on all the creditors or class of creditors or on all the members or class of members, as the case may be, and also on the company
or, in the case of a company in the course of being wound up, on the liquidator and contributories of the company.
(4) The Registrar of the Court, as the case may be, may grant approval to a compromise or arrangement subject to such alterations or
conditions as is thought fit.
(5) An order or direction under subsection (3) has no effect until an office copy of the order or direction is lodged with the Registrar
and the prescribed fee paid and, upon being so lodged, the order or direction takes effect on and from the date of filing of the
same or such earlier date as the Registrar may determine and as may be specified in the order or direction.
(6) A copy of any order or direction made under subsection (3) shall be annexed to a copy of the memorandum and articles of the company
issued after the order or direction has been made.
(7) Where any such compromise or arrangement in respect of an international company for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme
for the reconstruction of any company or companies or the amalgamation of any 2 or more companies has been proposed, the directors
of the company shall:
(a) if a meeting of the members of the company by resolution so directs, instruct such experts or a trustee company or both as are named in the resolution to report on the proposal and forward their report or reports to the directors as soon as may be; and
(b) make such report or reports available at the registered office of the company in Samoa for inspection by the shareholders and
creditors of the company at least 14 days before the date of any meeting ordered by the Registrar to be summoned as provided in subsection
(2).
(8) An international company which defaults in complying with subsection (6) or (7) and an officer of a company who is in default commit
an offence.
(9) Where no other direction has been made or resolution passed for the winding-up of a company and any such compromise or arrangement
as is referred to in subsection (2) has been proposed between the company and its creditors, or any class of such creditors, the
Registrar, in addition to any of his or her other powers, on an application lodged by the company or by any member or creditor of
the company may request the Court to restrain further proceedings in any action or proceeding against the company except by special
leave of the Court in which the action or proceeding is pending and subject to such terms as the Court imposes.
128. Information as to compromise with creditors and members – (1) Where a meeting is summoned in respect of an international company under section 127:
(a) with a notice summoning the meeting which is sent to a creditor or member, there shall be sent also a statement explaining the effect of the compromise or arrangement and in particular stating the material interests of the directors, whether as directors or as members or as creditors of the company or otherwise, and the effect thereon of the compromise or arrangement in so far as it is different from the effect on the like interest of other persons; and
(b) in a notice summoning the meeting which is given by advertisement, there shall be included either such statement or a notification
of the place at which and the manner in which creditors or members entitled to attend the meeting may obtain copies of such statement.
(2) Where the compromise or arrangement affects the rights of debenture holders, the statement shall give the like explanation with respect
to a trustee company when the trustee company is acting as trustee for the debenture holders as, under subsection (1), a statement
is required to be given with respect to the directors.
(3) Where a notice given by an international company by advertisement includes a notification that copies of such statement can be obtained,
a creditor or member entitled to attend the meeting shall on making application in the manner indicated by the notice be provided
by the company free of charge with a copy of the statement.
(4) Each director of an international company and the trustee company on behalf of the debenture holders shall give notice to the company
of such matters relating to himself or herself and itself as may be necessary for the purposes of this section.
(5) Where default is made by an international company in complying with any requirements of this section, the company and an officer
of the company who is in default commit an offence.
(6) For the purpose of subsection (5), a liquidator of an international company and the trustee company acting on behalf of debenture
holders are taken to be officers of the company.
(7) Despite subsection (5), a person is not liable under that subsection if he or she shows that the default was due to the refusal of
any director or trustee company to supply the necessary particulars as to his or her or its interest.
129. Provisions for facilitating reconstruction and amalgamation of companies – (1) In this section, except in so far as the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires, “property” includes
property rights and powers of every description.
(2) Where an application is lodged with the Registrar or made to the Court under this Part for the approval of a compromise or arrangement
and it is shown to the Registrar or the Court that the compromise or arrangement has been proposed for the purposes of or in connection
with a scheme for the reconstruction of any international company or companies or the amalgamation of any 2 or more companies and
that under the scheme the whole or any part of the undertaking or the property of any company concerned in the scheme, (in this section
referred to as the “transferor company”) is to be transferred to another company, (in this section referred to as the
“transferee company”) the Registrar or the Court may either by direction or order approve the compromise or arrangement
or by any subsequent direction or order provide for all or any of the following matters:
(a) the transfer to the transferee company of the whole or any part or the undertaking and of the property or liabilities of the transferor company;
(b) the allotting or appropriation by the transferee company of any shares, debentures, policies or other like interests in that company which under the compromise or arrangement are to be allotted or appropriated by that company to or for any person;
(c) the adjournment or continuation by or against the transferee company of any legal proceedings pending by or against the transferor company;
(d) the dissolution, without winding-up, of the transferor company;
(e) the provision to be made for any persons who, within such time and in such manner as the Registrar or the Court directs, dissent from the compromise or arrangement; and
(f) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation shall
be fully and effectively carried out.
(3) Where an order or direction made under this section provides for the transfer of property or liabilities, then by virtue of the order
or direction that property shall be transferred to and vest in and those liabilities shall be transferred to and become liabilities
of the transferee company fee in the lease of any particular property if the order of directions so provides, from any charge which
is by virtue of the compromise of arrangement to cease to have effect.
(4) Where an order or direction is made under this section, an international company in relation to which the order or direction is made
shall lodge an office copy thereof with the Registrar and pay the prescribed fee within 14 days after the making of the order or
direction and a company which makes default in complying with this subsection and an officer of the company who is in default commit
an offence.
130. Takeover offers –Regulations may be made for regulating takeover offers.
PART 8
RECEIVERS AND MANAGERS
131. Qualification for appointment as receiver – (1) In this Part, “receiver” includes a receiver of the property of an international company or any part thereof or of the
property of a foreign company registered in Samoa and a manager appointed by or on behalf of a secured creditor or by the Court.
(2) Unless regulations made under this Act otherwise provide, an international company shall not be appointed a receiver unless it is
an official liquidator.
132. Directions and liability – (1) A receiver appointed under the powers contained in any instrument may lodge an application accompanied by the prescribed fee with
the Registrar for directions in relation to any matter arising in connection with the performance of his or her functions.
(2) A receiver is personally liable in any contract entered into by him or her in the performance of his or her functions except in so
far as the contract otherwise provides and is entitled in respect of that liability to indemnity out of the assets of the company;
but nothing in this subsection limits a right to indemnity which he or she would have apart from this subsection, or limits his or
her liability on contracts entered into without authority or as conferring a right to indemnity in respect of that liability.
133. Notification of appointment of receiver – (1) If a person obtains an order for the appointment of a receiver, or appoints such a receiver under any powers contained in any instrument,
the person shall, within 14 days after the person has obtained the order or made the appointment, lodge notice of the fact with the
Registrar.
(2) Where a person appointed receiver under the powers contained in any instrument ceases to act as such, the person shall within 21
days thereafter lodge with the Registrar notice to that effect.
(3) A person who makes default in complying with the requirements of this section commits an offence.
134. Statement that receiver appointed – (1) Where a receiver has been appointed in respect of an international company, every invoice, order for goods or business letter issued
by or on behalf of the company by the receiver or liquidator of the company, being a document on or in which the name of the company
appears, shall contain a statement immediately following the name of the company that a receiver has been appointed.
(2) If default is made by an international company in complying with this section, the company and an officer and every liquidator of
the company or receiver who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the default commit an offence.
135. Provisions as to information where receiver appointed – (1) Where a receiver is appointed in respect of an international company:
(a) the receiver shall forthwith send notice to the company of his or her appointment; and
(b) there shall within 1 month after receipt of the notice, or such longer period as may be allowed by the Registrar or by the receiver, be made out and submitted to the receiver under section 136 a statement in the prescribed form as to the affairs of the company; and
(c) the receiver shall within 1 month after receipt of the statement—
(i) lodge with the Registrar a copy of the statement and of any comments the receiver sees fit to make; and
(ii) send to the company a copy of any such comments as aforesaid or, if the receiver does not see fit to make any comment, a notice to that effect; and
(iii) where the receiver is appointed by or on behalf of holders of debentures of the company, send to the trustees, if any, for those
holders a copy of the statement and the receiver’s comments thereon.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the appointment of a receiver to act with an existing receiver or in the case of a receiver
dying or ceasing to act, except that, where that subsection applies to a receiver who dies or ceased to act before that subsection
has been fully complied with, the references in paragraphs (b) and (c) thereof to the receiver shall include references to his or
her successor.
136. Special provisions as to statements made to receiver – (1) The statement as to the affairs of an international company required by section 135 to be submitted to the receiver shall show as
at the date of the receiver’s appointment the particulars of the company’s assets debts and liabilities, the names and
addresses of its directors, the securities held by them respectively and the date when the securities were respectively given and
such further or other information as may be prescribed, by regulation.
(2) The statement as to the affairs of an international company shall be submitted by, and be verified by statutory declaration of, one
or more persons who were at the date of the receiver’s appointment the directors of the company or by such of the persons (“the
receiver”) may require to submit and verify the statement, that is to say:
(a) persons who are or have been officers; or
(b) persons who have taken part in the formation of the company at any time within 1 year before the date of the receiver’s appointment; or
(c) persons who are in the employment of the company or who have been in the employment of the company within that year, and in the opinion of the receiver are capable of giving the information required; or
(d) persons who are or have been within that year officers of or in the employment of a company which is, or within that year was,
an officer of the company to which the statement relates.
(3) A person making a statement and statutory declaration shall be allowed and shall be paid by the receiver, or his or her successor,
out of his or her receipts such costs and expenses incurred in and about the preparation and making of the statement and statutory
declaration as the receiver, or his or her successor, may consider reasonable subject to an appeal to the Registrar.
(4) A person who defaults in complying with the requirements of this section, commits an offence.
137. Lodging of accounts by receivers – (1) A receiver shall:
(a) within 1 month after the expiration of the period of 6 months from the date of the receiver’s appointment and of any subsequent period of 6 months and within 1 month after the receiver ceases to act as receiver lodge with the Registrar a detailed account in the prescribed form showing—
(i) the receiver’s receipts and the receiver’s payments during each period of 6 months, or where the receiver ceases to act as receiver during the period from the end of the period to which the last preceding account related or from the date of the receiver’s appointment, as the case may be, up to the date of the receiver’s so ceasing; and
(ii) the aggregate amount of both receipts and payments during all preceding periods since the receiver’s appointment; and
(iii) where the receiver has been appointed pursuant to the powers contained in any instrument, the amount owing under that instrument at the time of the receiver’s appointment in the case of the first account, and at the expiration of every 6 months after the receiver’s appointment, and where the receiver has ceased to act as receiver at the date of the receiver’s so ceasing, and the receiver’s estimate of the total value of all assets of the company which are subject to that instrument; and
(b) before lodging such account, verify by statutory declaration accounts and statements referred to therein.
(2) The Registrar may, of his or her own motion or on the application of an international company or a creditor, cause the accounts to
be audited by a registered company auditor appointed by the Registrar and for the purposes of the audit the receiver shall provide
the auditor with such vouchers and information as he or she requires and the auditor may at any time require the production of and
inspect any books kept by the receiver and any document or other record relating thereto.
(3) The Registrar may make a direction for the payment of the costs of an audit ordered by the Registrar and, where the Registrar causes
the accounts to be audited upon the request of the company or a creditor, the Registrar may require the applicant to give security
for the payment of the cost of the audit.
138. Repealed by s68 of Act 1991, No.10.
PART 9
WINDING UP
Division 1 – Preliminary
139. Modes of winding-up – (1) An international company may be wound up either:
(a) compulsorily; or
(b) voluntarily.
(2) Unless inconsistent with the context or subject matter, the provisions of this Act with respect to winding-up, apply to the winding-up
of a company in either of those modes.
140. Government bound by winding-up rules – The provisions of this Part relating to the remedies against the property of a company, the priorities of debts and the effect of an arrangement with creditors bind the Government of Samoa in all its capacities.
141. Certificate as to winding-up – (1) The Registrar upon application lodged by any person in the prescribed form accompanied by the prescribed fee, shall issue a certificate
stating whether at the date of the certificate an international company is being wound up, or a petition has been presented for the
winding-up of the company and is pending.
(2) Notice of the issue and effect of such certificate may be given by telegram, cable, telex, facsimile or wireless if the applicant
for the certificate so requests and pays the cost thereof.
(3) Neither the Government nor the Registrar nor any officer or servant of the Government is liable by reason of any error, mistake, inaccuracy
or delay in or in the giving of the certificate or notice by whatsoever cause or means arising, unless such error, mistake, inaccuracy
or delay was wilful and fraudulent.
142. Effect of winding-up – (1) An international company shall from the commencement of the winding up cease to carry on business, except so far as, in the opinion of the liquidator:
(a) is required for the beneficial winding-up of the international company; or
(b) subject to section 143, is required for the performance of any contract which the liquidator may not disclaim pursuant to section
192, –
but the corporate state and corporate powers of the company shall, despite anything to the contrary in the articles, continue until
it is dissolved.
(2) On the commencement of the winding-up of an international company, all the powers of the directors shall cease except in so far as
the liquidator of the company approves the continuance thereof.
(3) A transfer of shares, not being a transfer made to or with the sanction of the liquidator, other than the transfer of a share warrant,
and an alteration in the status of the members made after the commencement of the winding-up are void.
143. Avoidance of disposition of property – A disposition of the property of an international company including things in action, made after the commencement of the winding-up is, unless the Court otherwise orders, void.
144. Costs of winding-up – (1) All proper costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the winding-up of an international company, including the remuneration
of the liquidator, are to be payable out of the assets of the company in priority to all other claims of whatsoever nature.
(2) The Court may, in the event of the assets being insufficient to satisfy such costs, charges and expenses, make an order as to the
payment out of the assets of such costs, charges and expenses in such order of priority as the Court thinks just.
145. Custody and vesting of company’s property – On the commencement of any winding-up or when a provisional liquidator has been appointed, the liquidator or provisional liquidator shall take into custody or control all the property and things in action to which the company is or appears to be entitled and, on application by the liquidator to the Court all or any part of the property of the company of whatsoever description belonging to the company or held by trustees on its behalf may be vested in the liquidator by his or her official name.
146. Delivery of assets – The Court may require any contributory, trustee, receiver, banker, agent or officer of an international company to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer to the liquidator or provisional liquidator forthwith or within such time as the Court directs any money, property, books and papers in his or her hands to which the company is prima facie entitled.
147. Avoidance of certain transactions – An attachment, sequestration, distress, or execution put in force against the estate or effects of an international company after the commencement of its winding-up is unless the Court otherwise orders, void.
148. Pending proceedings – After the commencement of the winding-up, no action or proceeding shall be proceeded with or commenced nor shall any judgement be executed against an international company except by leave of the Court, and subject to such terms as the Court may impose.
149. Power to stay winding-up – (1) At any time after the commencement of a winding-up the Court may, on the application of any person order that the winding-up be stayed,
either altogether or for a limited time.
(2) The order staying or refusing to stay the winding-up shall be made on such terms and conditions as the Court sees fit.
(3) A copy of an order under this section shall be lodged by the liquidator with the Registrar forthwith.
150. Delegation to liquidator of court’s power – Unless rules of court otherwise provide, the Court may order that the powers and duties imposed on the Court by this Part in respect of:
(a) the holding and conducting of meetings to ascertain the wishes of creditors and contributories; and
(b) the settling of lists of contributories, the rectifying of the register of members where required, and the collecting and applying of the assets; and
(c) the paying, delivery, conveyance, surrender or transfer of money, property, books or papers to the liquidators; and
(d) the making of calls and the adjusting of the rights of contributories; and
(e) the fixing of a time within which debts and claims must be proved, –
may be exercised or performed by the liquidator as an officer of the Court and subject to the control of the Court, but the liquidator
shall not without the special leave of the Court rectify the register of members or make any call.
151. Liability as contributories of present and past members – (1) Upon an international company being wound up, a present member or past member is liable to contribute to the assets of the company to an amount sufficient for payment of its debts and liabilities and the costs, charges and expenses of the winding-up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among present and past members, subject to the other provisions of this section and to the following qualifications:
(a) a past member is not liable to contribute if that member has ceased to be a member for 1 year or more before the commencement of the winding-up;
(b) a past member is not liable to contribute in respect of any debt or liability of the company contracted after that member ceased to be a member;
(c) a past member is not liable to contribute unless the existing members have failed to satisfy the contribution required to be made by them in pursuance of this Act within 42 days from notice being given of such contribution in the manner prescribed;
(d) upon a past member becoming liable to contribute pursuant to this subsection, the part member shall be immediately liable to pay the amount of such contribution to the liquidator of the company and thereupon is entitled to receive from the liquidator a certificate of the names of the existing members who have failed to contribute within the time provided by paragraph (c) and such certificate is conclusive evidence of the right of such past member to recover from such existing members jointly and severally the amount of the contribution paid by him or her;
(e) no contribution shall be required from a member exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in respect of which the member is liable or, in relation to companies limited by guarantee or companies limited by both shares and guarantee, to the amount specified in the memorandum; and
(f) a sum due to any member in his or her character of a member by way of dividends, profits or otherwise shall not be a debt of the
company payable to that member in the case of a composition between himself or herself and any other creditor not a member, but any
such sum may be taken into account for the purpose of the final adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
(2) Nothing in this section limits the liability of a director apart from the director’s liability as a member in so far as that
liability is imposed by this Act, the articles of the company or otherwise.
(3) A resident director of the company is liable to contribute as a contributory upon the winding up of that company and for any knowing
and wilful misconduct, knowing and wilful default or knowing and wilful neglect.
(4) A trustee company is liable to contribute to the assets of any company of which it is a member or past member as trustee upon a winding-up
thereof to the extent of the assets in its hands held, after all its proper charges and costs are deducted, for the cestuique trust, but such cestuique trust is liable and, if more than one, jointly and severally liable to pay the balance of any call or guarantee amount remaining
unpaid thereafter and the trustee company shall supply to the liquidator upon request all the information available to it relating
to the cestuique trust.
152. Nature of liability of contributory – The liability of a contributory shall create a debt of the nature of a specialty accruing due from the contributory at the time when his or her liability commenced but payable at the time when calls are made for enforcing the liability.
153. Contributories in case of death or bankruptcy of member – (1) If a contributory dies, either before or after he or she has been placed on the list of contributories, his or her personal representatives
are liable in due course of administration to contribute to the assets of an international company in discharge of his or her liability
and shall be a contributory accordingly, and if the personal representatives make default in paying any money ordered to be paid
by them proceedings may be taken for administering the estate of the deceased contributory and for compelling payment thereout of
the money due.
(2) If in Samoa or elsewhere a contributory becomes bankrupt or insolvent or assigns his or her estate for the benefit of his or her
creditors, either before or after he or she had been placed on the list of contributories:
(a) his or her trustee shall represent him or her for all the purposes of the winding-up and shall be a contributory accordingly; and
(b) there may be proved against the estate of the bankrupt the estimated value of his or her liability for future calls as well as those already made.
154. Distribution of assets – Subject to sections 153 and 156, and subject to the provisions of this Act as to preferential payments, the property of an international company shall, on its winding-up be applied in satisfaction of its liabilities equally, and subject to that application shall, unless the articles otherwise provide, be distributed among the members according to their rights and interest in the company.
155. Admission of claims to proof – (1) No claim shall be admitted to proof in a winding-up unless:
(a) a judgment of a court outside Samoa in respect thereof could be registered in a Court of Samoa and thereupon enforced in Samoa; or
(b) such claim would be enforceable by proceedings in a Court of Samoa.
(2) Where the identity or address of any member is not known to him or her, the liquidator shall pay any money due to such member to
the Government under the Public Finance Management Act 2001, and Part 10 relating to payments to the Government applies, with necessary adaptations, to such money.
156. Proof and ranking of claims – (1) In the winding-up of an insolvent international company, the same rules shall prevail and be observed with regard to:
(a) the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors; and
(b) debts provable; and
(c) the valuation of the annuities and future and contingent liabilities, –
as are in force or provided for in respect of the winding up of a domestic company; and all persons who in any such case would be
entitled to prove for and receive dividends out of the assets of the international company may come in under the winding-up and make
such claims against the company as they respectively are entitled to by virtue of this section.
(2) Regulations may be made by the Head of State to provide for the proof of claims in a winding up of an international company but in
the absence of such regulations the procedure to be followed shall be that which is for the time being provided for the proof of
claims in the winding up of a domestic company.
157. Claims of creditors and distribution of assets – (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Court or, in the case of a voluntary winding-up the Registrar, may fix a date on or before which creditors
are to prove their debts or claims or after which they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before those debts
are proved.
(2) The liquidator or, in a voluntary winding up the Registrar, as the case may be, may extend the date fixed pursuant to subsection
(1) and fix a new date.
(3) Any surplus after payment of all liabilities of an international company, including the costs, charges and expenses of the winding-up,
shall be distributed by the liquidator amongst the persons entitled thereto but, in the event of a dispute as to the persons entitled
thereto, the liquidator, after receiving notice of such dispute, shall refer the dispute to the Court, and shall be discharged by
payment in accordance with the order of the Court.
(4) If no notice of dispute as to the persons entitled to a distribution of the surplus or any part thereof is received by the liquidator
prior to making such distribution, whether interim or final, the liquidator shall be discharged from any liability to any person
in respect of the amount so distributed but without prejudice to the rights of such person to recover the same from the person receiving
the distribution.
Division 2 – Compulsory Winding-up
158. Application for winding-up – (1) An international company whether or not it is being wound up voluntarily, may be wound up compulsorily by order of the Court.
(2) The Court may order the winding-up of an international company upon the petition of 1 or more of the following:
(a) the company;
(b) a creditor, including a contingent or prospective creditor of the company;
(c) a contributory of the company;
(d) the liquidator of the company;
(e) the Authority.
(3) A petition shall be filed in the Court in duplicate.
(3A) The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the international company named therein.
(4) The Registrar of the Court, upon a petition being filed, shall forthwith deliver the duplicate copy thereof to the Registrar.
(5) Notice of any order made on or in respect of a petition shall immediately be served by the petitioner on the Registrar and where
applicable on the liquidator named in such order and on the international company named therein.
(6) Regulations may be made by the Head of State prescribing practice and procedure in Court applications or the grounds upon which a
petition may be presented by any or all of the persons referred to in subsection (2), or the time within which petitions may be presented
on any one or more grounds and specifying the circumstances in which a winding-up order may or may not be made or shall or shall
not be made.
159. Circumstances in which company may be wound up compulsorily – (1) Subject to section 158, the Court may order that an international company be wound up if:
(a) the company has by special resolution resolved that it be wound up under the order of the Court; or
(b) default is made by the company in (Section 112, the provision on annual returns, was repealed by the International Companies Amendment Act 1991, No. 10, Section 63) repeated by the or lodging a statutory report or in holding a statutory meeting; or
(c) the company acquires the whole of its own shares or has no member:
PROVIDED THAT it is not liable to be wound up under this paragraph so long as debentures of the kind referred to in section 57(3) are issued and not redeemed; or
(d) the company is unable to pay its debts; or
(e) the directors have acted in the affairs of the company in their own interest rather than in the interests of the members as a whole or in any other manner whatsoever which appears to be unfair or unjust to other members; or
(f) the Court is of the opinion that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up; or
(g) on the petition of the Authority it appears that—
(i) the company has persistently been in breach of this Act; or
(ii) the company has failed to pay any penalty or fee which under this Act it is liable to pay; or
(iii) the company has failed to pay the prescribed renewal fee within a period of 60 days after the same became due and payable; or
(iv) a director or officer of the company has failed to pay any penalty imposed on him or her under this Act; or
(v) the company has failed to make good a default within 60 days after services on it of a notice under section 12(6) requiring it to do so; or
(vi) the company has been ordered by the Authority to cease carrying on business or any part of its business, under section 225.
(2) An international company is taken to be unable to pay its debts if:
(a) a creditor by assignment or otherwise to whom the company is indebted in a sum exceeding $1000 then due has served on the company by leaving at its registered office in Samoa a demand under his or her hand or under the hand of his or her agent thereunto lawfully authorised requiring the company to pay the sum so due and the company has for 30 days thereafter neglected to pay the sum or to secure or compound for it to the reasonable satisfaction of the creditor; or
(b) execution or other process issued on a judgment, decree or order of any Court in favour of a creditor of the company is returned unsatisfied in whole or in part; or
(c) it is proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the company is unable to pay its debts; and in determining whether a company
is unable to pay its debts the Court shall take into account the contingent and prospective liabilities of the company.
(3) No debt which cannot be admitted in a winding-up may found a petition on the ground that the company is unable to pay its debts.
(4) If, on the hearing of a petition to wind-up an international company, it is reported that the assets and affairs of the company are
such that the making of a winding-up order would not be appropriate, the Court may instead order that the name of the company be
struck off the register and the company shall thereupon be dissolved. Within 7 days of any order made under this subsection sealed
copies of the order shall be lodged by the petitioner with the Registrar with the prescribed fee served upon or forwarded by registered
post to the company at its registered office.
160. Commencement of compulsory winding-up – (1) Where before an order is made for the compulsory winding-up of an international company a voluntary winding-up of the company has
commenced the compulsory winding up of the company shall be deemed to have commenced when the voluntary winding-up commenced.
(2) In any other case, the compulsory winding-up of an international company is taken to have commenced:
(a) where a provisional liquidator has been appointed and an order for the company to be wound-up is subsequently made, at the time when such appointment is made; and
(b) where no provisional liquidator has been appointed, at the time when the order is made for the company to be wound-up.
161. Payment of costs – Upon a winding-up order being made in respect of an international company, the liquidator shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, reimburse the petitioner out of the assets of the company, the reasonable costs incurred by the petitioner in the proceedings for winding-up.
162. Costs relating to winding-up – Rules may be made under section 222 to provide for the costs, fees and expenses of and incidental to proceedings under a compulsory winding-up, including the fees and remuneration of a liquidator but in the absence of such rules, the fees, costs and expenses payable for the time being on the winding-up of a domestic company shall be paid subject to the overall discretion of the Court to increase or decrease any such fees, costs or expenses.
163. Copy of order to be lodged – (1) The petitioner, within 7 days after the making of a winding-up order against an international company, shall lodge a copy of the
order with the Registrar and, other than where the petitioner is the Authority, pay the prescribed fee, and shall, within the 7 days
cause copies of the order to be served upon the company and upon the liquidator appointed by the Court and within 14 days thereafter
further deliver to the liquidator a certified statement that the requirements of this section have been complied with.
(2) If default is made in complying with subsection (1) the petitioner commits an offence.
164. Appointment of liquidator – (1) The Court upon making an order or the winding-up of an international company shall subject to section 11, appoint a liquidator of
the company and the Court may require him or her to give such security as it thinks fit and that liquidator shall, unless the Court
for special reason orders otherwise, be an official liquidator.
(2) The Court may by order appoint a liquidator provisionally at any time after the presentation of a winding-up order and the provisional
liquidator so appointed shall have and may exercise all the functions and powers of a liquidator subject to such limitations and
restrictions as may be provided by the order appointing him or her or any subsequent order of the Court and any reference in this
Act to a liquidator shall include a provisional liquidator.
165. Validation of proceedings in voluntary winding-up –Unless the Court on proof of fraud or mistake, thinks fit otherwise to direct, all things done and all proceedings taken in any voluntary winding-up preceding the making of a winding-up order is taken deemed to have been validly done or taken.
166. Statement of affairs – (1) Upon a winding-up order being made in respect of an international company there shall be made out and in the prescribed form verified by affidavit and submitted to the liquidator a statement as to the affairs of the company as at the date of the winding-up order showing the following:
(a) the particulars of its assets, debts and liabilities;
(b) the names and addresses of its creditors;
(c) the securities held by them respectively;
(d) the dates when the securities were respectively given;
(e) such further information as is prescribed or as the liquidator requires.
(2) A statement as to the affairs of an international company shall be submitted by one or more of the persons who, at the date of the
winding-up order, were directors of the company, or liquidators, subject to the direction of the Registrar requires, that is to say
persons:
(a) who are or have been officers of the company; or
(b) who have taken part in the formation of the company at any time within 1 year before the date of the winding-up order; or
(c) who are or have been within that year officers of or in the employment of a company which is, or within that year was, an officer of the company to which the statement relates; or
(d) where a voluntarily winding-up preceded the order, the liquidator in such winding-up.
(3) The statement shall be submitted within 30 days after the date of the winding-up order or within such extended time as the Court
or a liquidator for good reason allows, and the liquidator within 7 days after its receipt shall cause a copy of the statement to
be lodged with the Registrar.
(4) A person making or concurring in making a statement as to the affairs of an international company required by this section subject
to any regulations, may be paid by the liquidator out of the assets of the company such costs and expenses incurred in and about
the preparation and making of the statement as the liquidator considers reasonable.
(5) A person who, without reasonable excuse, makes default in complying with the requirements of this section commits an offence.
167. Settlement of list of contributories and application of assets – (1) As soon as may be after making a winding-up order in respect of an international company, the Court shall settle a list of contributories
and may rectify the register of members and in the case of a company which issued share warrants, or bearer shares enquire into and
determine who are the members of the company, in all cases where such rectification or enquiry is required for settling a correct
list of contributories.
(2) Despite subsection (1), where it appears to the Court that it will not be necessary to make calls on or adjust the rights of contributories,
it may dispense with the settlement of a list of contributories.
(3) In settling the list of contributories, the Court shall distinguish between persons who are contributories in their own right and
persons who are contributories as being representatives of or liable for the obligations of others.
(4) The list of contributories when settled shall be prima facie evidence of the liabilities of the persons named therein as contributories.
168. Report of liquidator – (1) The liquidator in a compulsory winding-up of an international company, as soon as practicable after receipt of the statement of affairs, shall submit a preliminary report to the Court:
(a) as to the amount of capital issued, subscribed and paid up and the estimated amount of assets and liabilities; and
(b) if the company has failed, as to the cause of the failure; and
(c) whether in his or her opinion further enquiry is desirable as to any matter relating to the promotion, formation or failure of
the company or the conduct of the business thereof.
(2) The liquidator if he or she thinks fit, may make further reports stating the manner in which an international company was formed
and whether in his or her opinion any fraud has been committed or any material fact has been concealed by any person in its promotion
or formation or by any officer in relation to the company since its formation and specifying any other matter which in his or her
opinion it is desirable to bring to the notice of the Court.
Division 3 – Voluntary Winding-up
169. Circumstances in which company may be wound-up voluntarily – (1) An international company which is able to pay or provide for the payment of its debts in full or if not in full to the satisfaction
of its creditors, may be wound up voluntarily if the company has by special resolution resolved that it be wound up voluntarily and
has lodged notice thereof with the Registrar.
(2) Upon the Registrar being satisfied that the notice of the resolution for the winding-up of the company has been lodged with him or
her, the Registrar shall appoint an official liquidator to be liquidator of the company and thereupon the winding-up shall commence.
(3) The liquidator or the Registrar may give such notices and make such enquiries as he or she sees fit to ascertain the identity of
the holders of the shares in an international company and of the creditors thereof, and the costs and expenses of so doing shall
be paid out of the assets of the company.
170. Declaration of solvency – (1) Where it is proposed to wind up an international company voluntarily the director of the company or, in the case of a company having
more than 2 directors, a majority of the directors before the date on which the resolution for the winding-up of the company is passed
under section 169, or the notice under section 169 is lodged, shall make and lodge with the Registrar a written declaration to the
effect that they have made an inquiry into the affairs of the company and have formed the opinion that the company will be able to
pay its debts in full within a period not exceeding 12 months after the date of the making of the declaration.
(2) There shall be attached to the declaration referred to in subsection (1) in relation to an international company a statement of affairs
of the company showing in the prescribed form:
(a) the assets of the company and the total amount expected to be realised therefrom;
(b) the liabilities of the company; and
(c) the estimated expenses of winding-up, –
made up to the latest practical date before the making of the declaration.
(3) A declaration in relation to an international company so made shall have no effect for the purposes of this Act unless it is:
(a) made within 5 weeks immediately preceding the passing of the resolution for voluntary winding-up; and
(b) lodged with the Registrar before the date on which the resolution for the winding-up of the company is passed.
(4) A director who makes a declaration in relation to an international company under this section without having reasonable grounds for
the opinion that the company will be able to pay its debts in full within the period stated in the declaration commits an offence.
(5) If an international company is wound-up pursuant to a resolution for voluntary winding up passed within a period of 5 weeks after
the making of the declaration but its debts are not paid or provided for in full within the period stated in the declaration, it
is presumed until the contrary is shown that the director did not have reasonable grounds for his or her opinion.
171. Conversion of voluntarily winding-up to compulsory winding-up – Where an international company is being wound-up voluntarily:
(a) if the liquidator is at any time of the opinion that the company will not be able to pay or provide for the payment of its debts in full or, if not in full, to the satisfaction of all the creditors, he or she shall forthwith give notice to the creditors of that opinion; and
(b) upon such notice being given, the winding-up shall continue as a compulsory winding-up and the liquidator shall forthwith lodge with the Court a notice to that effect in the prescribed form and thereupon the Court is taken to have ordered the winding-up and to have appointed the liquidator.
172. Payment of claims by liquidator of company in voluntary liquidation – (1) Within 120 days after the commencement of the voluntary winding-up of an international company, or within such further time as the Registrar may allow, the liquidator shall;
(a) make such enquiries as to claims and give such notices by advertisement or otherwise as regulations may require and as the liquidator thinks fit; and
(b) subject to the retention of a fund sufficient to meet the costs, charges and expenses and future costs, charges and expenses of the liquidation, pay such claims in the liquidation of which he or she has actual notice and which he or she has admitted or which are admissible; and
(c) without regard to other claims of which he or she has no notice or which are not admissible, distribute the surplus rateably amongst the contributories, in the case of those contributories whose identity—
(i) is known to the liquidator, by paying over to them their shares or otherwise accounting to them for their respective shares in the surplus; and
(ii) are not known to the liquidator, by paying over the shares of those contributories to the Government under the Part 10 of the
Public Finance Management Act 2001.
(2) Upon making the payments referred to in subsection (1), the liquidator shall file with the Registrar a certificate to that effect
and the international company named in the certificate shall be thereupon dissolved.
(3) A claim by an unidentified contributory to recover his or her shares in the surplus paid to the Government pursuant to subsection
(1) shall be made under Part 10 of the Public Finance Management Act 2001 provided such claim is made within 3 years of the liquidator’s certificate and prosecuted with due diligence thereafter.
(4) The Court may extend the time for making a claim under Part 10 of the Public Finance Management Act 2001, where the time for making the claim has not expired.
(5) Regulations may be made:
(a) for the making and determination of claims of creditors either not admitted by the liquidator or barred by the dissolution of an international company prior to their submission to and allowance by the liquidator; and
(b) prescribing the amounts which may be claimed, either in respect of a particular company or in respect of a particular claim; and
(c) for enabling recovery from contributories to whom payment of surplus have been made or from the Government in respect of money
paid in as unclaimed money and of costs, charges and expenses incurred in respect of the claims made:
PROVIDED THAT the regulations do not permit recovery from a contributory or the Government unless proceedings to enforce recovery are commenced
within a period of 3 years from the date of the liquidator’s certificate.
Division 4 – Liquidators
173. Vacancy in office of liquidator – If in the course of a winding-up a vacancy occurs by death, resignation or otherwise in the office of a liquidator, in the
case of a compulsory winding-up the Court shall fill the vacancy by the appointment of a liquidator:
PROVIDED THAT the liquidator so appointed shall, unless the Court for special reasons otherwise orders, be an official liquidator, and in the case
of a voluntary winding-up the vacant office shall be filled by the Registrar in like manner.
174. Replacement of liquidator – Subject to rules of court, the Court may remove a liquidator and appoint another liquidator in his or her place.
175. Validity of liquidator’s Acts – (1) The acts of a liquidator are valid despite any defects that may be discovered in his or her appointment or qualification.
(2) Any conveyance, assignment, transfer, mortgage, charge or other disposition of an international company’s property made by
a liquidator, despite any defect or irregularity affecting the validity of the winding-up or appointment of the liquidator, shall
be valid in favour of any person taking such property bona fide and for value and without notice of such defect or irregularity.
(3) A person making or permitting any disposition of property to any liquidator shall be protected and indemnified in so doing, despite
any defect or irregularity affecting the validity of the winding-up or the appointment of the liquidator not then known to such person.
(4) For the purpose of this section a disposition of property shall be taken as including a payment of money.
176. General provisions as to liquidators – (1) A person appointed to be the liquidator of an international company may resign.
(2) In the event of an international company or contributory seeking the removal of a liquidator and such removal being opposed by the
liquidator, the question is to be referred to the Court and upon cause being shown the Court may order that the said liquidator be
removed and thereupon the liquidator shall cease to be the liquidator of the company.
(3) Upon discovery of any defect in the appointment or qualifications of a liquidator, the Registrar may by public notice validate such
appointment and the liquidator shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to have been validly appointed on and from such date as
may be specified in the notice.
177. Powers of liquidators – (1) A liquidator may, subject to regulations made under this Act and, in a compulsory winding-up of an international company, subject to any order or rule of the Court:
(a) carry on the business of the company so far as is necessary for the beneficial winding-up; and
(b) subject to the provisions of this Act, pay any class of creditors in full; and
(c) make any compromise or arrangement with creditors or persons claiming to be creditors or having, or alleging themselves to have, any claim present or future, certain or contingent, ascertained or sounding only in damage, against the company or whereby the company may be rendered liable; and
(d) compromise any calls or liabilities to calls, debts and liabilities capable of resulting in debts and any claims present or future, certain or contingent, ascertained or sounding only in damages, subsisting or supposed to subsist between the company and a contributory or other debtor or person apprehending liability to the company, and all questions in any way relating to or affecting the assets or the winding-up of the company, on such terms as are agreed and take any security for the discharge of any such call, debt, liability or claim, and give a complete discharge in respect thereof; and
(e) bring or defend any action or other legal proceeding in the name and on behalf of the company; and
(f) appoint a barrister, solicitor, a trustee company, and accountant or other expert to assist him or her in his or her duties; and
(g) sell the real and personal property and things in action of the company by public auction, public tender or private contract with power to transfer the whole to any person or company or to sell the same in parcels; and
(h) do all acts and execute in the name and on behalf of the company all deeds, receipts and other documents and for that purpose use when necessary the company’s seal; and
(i) prove rank and claim in the insolvency, sequestration bankruptcy or liquidation of any contributory or debtor for any balance against his or her estate, and receive dividends in the insolvency, sequestration bankruptcy or liquidation in respect of that balance as a separate debt due from the insolvency, bankrupt or company in liquidation and rateably with other separate creditors; and
(j) draw, accept, make and endorse any bill of exchange or promissory note in the name and on behalf of the company with the same effect with respect to the liability of the company as if the bill or note had been drawn, accepted, made or endorsed by or on behalf of the company in the course of its business; and
(k) raise on the security of the assets of the company any money required; and
(l) take out or cause to be taken out, probate or letters of administration of the estate of any deceased contributory or debtor, and do any other act necessary for obtaining payment of any money due from a contributory or debtor or his or her estate which cannot be conveniently done in the name of the company, and in all such cases the money due is for the purposes of enabling the liquidator to take out or cause to be taken out the probate or letters of administration or recover the money, deemed due to the liquidator himself or herself; and
(m) appoint an agent or expert to do any business or carry out any work or give any recommendation or advice which the liquidator is unable or unqualified to do himself or herself and to pay the proper charges of such agents and experts for the doing of such work and to pay the proper expenses incurred in and incidental to the doing of such work; and
(n) do all such things as are necessary or convenient and reasonable for winding-up the affairs of the company and distributing its
assets.
(2) If any creditor or contributory of an international company contends that the liquidator should do or refrain from doing any of the
acts or things under subsection (1) or is aggrieved by any act or decision of the liquidator, such person may submit to the Registrar
his or her contention in respect thereof, setting forth the ground therefor and if the Registrar is of the opinion that the contention
is one which might be reasonably sustained, whether the Registrar would himself or herself sustain it or not, the Registrar shall
inform the liquidator and the contention shall thereupon be referred to the Court and the liquidator shall act in accordance with
any order made by the Court.
(3) Unless the Court orders otherwise, the liquidator shall be entitled to his or her costs and expenses of the proceedings out of the
assets of the company and, if prior to the contention being referred to the Court, the liquidator certifies to the Court that there
is a doubt whether the assets of the company will be sufficient to satisfy such costs after providing for all other then known expenses
and out goings, the Court:
(a) shall not then proceed with the hearing until full security for such costs and expenses has been provided by the applicant and such security to the extent to which the liquidator is unable to satisfy such costs and expenses from the assets of the company, shall answer for the same and in any event shall answer for the same in the first instance; and
(b) may order the applicant to pay to the company the whole of the liquidator’s costs and expenses or such part thereof as it thinks fit, and may order the liquidator or the company to pay the whole of the applicant’s costs or expenses or such part thereof as it thinks fit.
178. Exercise and control of liquidator’s power – (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the liquidator in the administration of the assets of an international company and in the
distribution thereof amongst its creditors shall have regard to any directions given by the creditors or contributories at any meeting
or otherwise in accordance with this Act.
(2) The liquidator may summon a meeting of the creditors or contributories for the purpose of ascertaining their wishes, and he or she
shall summon meetings at such times as the creditors’ or contributories by resolution direct or whenever requested in writing
to do so by not less than one-tenth in value of the creditors or contributories and all such meetings shall be summoned and held
in accordance with the regulations, (if any).
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the liquidator shall use his or her own discretion in the management of the affairs and property
of an international company and the distribution of its assets.
179. Payment by liquidator into bank – (1) A liquidator shall pay the monies received by him or her into a bank account opened by him or her for the purposes of his or her activities
as liquidator, and regulations may be issued prescribing the bank account approved for this purpose and the manner and terms under
which such bank account is to be conducted.
(2) In this section, “bank account” means an account in the name of the liquidator or in the name of the company in liquidation
or in such other name as the Registrar directs, at such bank carrying on business in Samoa as is approved by the Registrar for the
purpose of this section.
180. Committees of inspection – The Head of State may make regulations relating to the appointment, constitutions, powers, duties, remuneration and removal of committees of inspection and for the appointment, the removal and the substitution of the members thereof.
181. Sale of property by liquidator other than for cash – (1) In any voluntary winding-up of any international company, the liquidator has the power:
(a) to sell, transfer or dispose of the business or property of the company in whole or in part in consideration of or in part consideration of the transfer, allotment or sale to him or her of shares, debentures, policies, choses in action or other like interests in other companies or in another company for distribution amongst the members in the winding-up, without it being necessary for the liquidator to receive such number of such shares, debentures, policies choses in action and the like as to permit of an exactly equal distribution amongst the members; and
(b) to transfer by way of distribution, some or all of such shares, debentures, policies, choses in action or the like to two or
more members as tenants in common, and he or she may enter into any other arrangement whereby the members of the company in lieu
of receiving cash, shares, debentures, policies, choses in action or other like interests, or in addition thereto, may participate
in the profits of or receive any other benefit from some other company or companies and any such transfer, sale, allotment or arrangement
is binding on the members of the company:
PROVIDED THAT notice of the liquidator’s intention in that behalf shall be given by him or her to such of the members of the company whose
identities are known to him or her and, if within 21 days from the giving of such notice 25% of those to whom notice has been given
dissent from the course proposed, the liquidator shall either abstain from carrying out the course proposed or purchase the interest
of the dissenters at a price to be determined by agreement or by the Court.
(2) In entering into a contact with another company or other companies:
(a) for the sale of the whole or part of the business or property of the company in return for the transfer, allotment or sale of shares, debentures, policies, choses in action or other like interests; or
(b) for any right to participate in profits of such other company or companies, or to receive any other benefits of such other company
or companies, -
the liquidator may make the dissent of the 25% of members as aforesaid a condition precedent or a condition subsequent to the contract
and in the absence of the expression of such a condition or event or it being doubtful whether such a condition is precedent or subsequent,
there shall be imputed into the contract a condition precedent to the effect.
182. Liquidator’s book – A liquidator shall keep proper books in which he or she shall cause to be made entries of minutes of proceedings at meetings and of resolutions by creditors or contributories and of such other matters as are prescribed and any creditor entitled to prove in the liquidation or any contributor may, wither approval of the Registrar, personally or by his or her agent inspect such books.
183. Liquidator’s returns – The Head of State may make regulations prescribing what returns, accounts, reports and information shall be lodged with the Registrar by a liquidator and providing for the costs and fees of and incidental to the same to be paid or provided for.
184. Invoices etc., of company in liquidation – (1) Where an international company is being wound up, every invoice, order for goods or business letter issued by or on behalf of the
company or a liquidator of the same or a receiver or manager of the property of the company, being a document on or in which the
name of the company appears, shall have the words “in liquidation” added after the name of the company where it first
appears therein.
(2) If default is made by an international company in complying with this section, the company and an officer and liquidator of the company
and a receiver or manager who knowingly and wilfully authorise or permit the default commit an offence.
185. Books of liquidator and company – (1) Where an international company is being wound-up or has been wound-up, all books and papers of the company and of the liquidator
that are relevant to the affairs of the company at or subsequent to the commencement of the winding-up of the company as between
the contributories of the company is prima facie evidence of the truth of all matters purporting to be therein recorded.
(2) Where an international company has been wound-up the liquidator shall return the books and papers to the resident secretary of that
company who shall ensure that those books and papers are retained by a trustee company for a period of 6 years from the commencement
of the winding-up. After the expiration of the 6 years the books and papers may be destroyed.
(3) The Registrar may cause any additional records or registers to be destroyed after the expiration of 6 years from the commencement
of the winding-up.
(4) No responsibility shall rest on the liquidator of an international company or the Registrar by reason of any book or paper of the
company being mislaid or not being forthcoming to a person claiming to be interested therein.
186. Investment by liquidator – Whenever the cash balance standing to the credit of an international company in liquidation is in excess of the amount which in the opinion of the liquidator is required for the time being to answer the demands in respect of the company, the liquidator may invest the sum or any part thereof in any investment approved in writing by the Authority.
187. Liquidators’ expenses – (1) Unless expressly directed so to do by the Court, a liquidator is not liable to incur any expense in relation to the winding-up of
an international company unless there are sufficient available assets to meet such expense.
(2) The Court on the application of a creditor or contributory, may direct a liquidator to incur a particular expense on condition that
the creditor or contributory indemnifies the liquidator in respect of the recovery of the amount expended and gives security to secure
the amount of the indemnity in a form acceptable to the liquidator or Court.
Division 5 – Dissolution
188. Dissolution – (1) As soon as the affairs of an international company are fully wound-up, the liquidator shall:
(a) unless the winding-up is governed by section 172, prepare an account showing how the winding-up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of; and
(b) unless the Registrar otherwise orders, send a copy of the account to each member of the company of whose name and address he or she is aware and, where the creditors of the company have not been paid in full or had their debts compromised, also to each creditor of whose name and address he or she is aware; and
(c) lodge with the Registrar, and in the case of a compulsory winding-up also, file in the Court, a copy of the account together
with a statement of the date upon which it was dispatched as aforesaid.
(2) On the expiration of 3 months after the lodging of a return with respect to an international company with the Registrar, the company
shall be dissolved.
(3) Despite subsection (2), the Registrar or, in the case of compulsory winding-up, the Court, on application by the liquidator, or by
any other person who appears to the Registrar or the Court, as the case may be, to be interested or, in the case of a compulsory
winding-up, by the Court, may make an order or direction deferring the date at which the dissolution of an international company
is to take effect for such time as the Registrar or the Court, as the case may be, thinks fit but not exceeding 6 months and, in
special circumstances, may extend the period upon further application for further periods of not more than 6 months.
(4) Except where the applicant is the Registrar, the person on whose application an extension is granted under subsection (3) within
14 days after the granting of the extension, shall:
(a) lodge with the Registrar, a copy of the direction of the Registrar or order of the Court, as the case may be, which shall set forth the name of the applicant and of the company and the date upon which the extension was granted and the period for which it was granted; and
(b) pay the prescribed fee therefor; and
(c) if the applicant is not the liquidator, send a copy thereof to the liquidator, –
and in default thereof the extension shall cease and the company shall forthwith be dissolved upon the date upon which it would have
been dissolved if the order or direction had not been made.
(5) Where an extension is granted in relation to the dissolution of an international company upon the application of the Registrar, he
or she shall forthwith note the order of the Court upon his or her records relating to the company and shall send a copy thereof
to the liquidator.
(6) Upon the dissolution of an international company the liquidator, unless the Court upon the application of any interested person or
of its own motion otherwise orders prior to the dissolution, shall be released from all claims by the contributories, the creditors
and the company.
189. Accountability of liquidator – (1) The Court, if it sees fit, may:
(a) cause a report to be made on any accounts of the liquidator by a registered company auditor appointed by the Court for that purpose; and
(b) pursuant to such report, issue a summons requiring the liquidator to appear before it; and
(c) upon the hearing of such summons, make such order or give such directions as it thinks fit, including an order for the liquidator
to make good any loss suffered by an international company resulting from his or her knowing and wilful misconduct, knowing and wilful
default or knowing and wilful neglect.
(2) When the liquidator has realised all the property of an international company or so much thereof as can in his or her opinion be
realised without needlessly protracting the liquidation or incurring expense without sufficient warrant, and has distributed a final
dividend, if any, to the creditors and adjusted the rights of the contributories, amongst themselves and made a final return if any
to the contributories, he or she may apply to the Court:
(a) for an order that he or she be released; or
(b) for an order that he or she be released and that the company be dissolved.
(3) When the liquidator has resigned or been removed from his or her office the liquidator may apply to the Court for an order that he
or she has been released.
(4) Upon an application by a liquidator for an order that he or she be released, the Court in granting the application may impose such
terms and conditions as it thinks fit; and any such order may be revoked on proof that it was obtained by fraud.
(5) The liability of an official liquidator shall except for liability for knowing and wilful misconduct, knowing and wilful default
and knowing and wilful neglect, be discharged upon the issue of the order by the Court releasing him or her as liquidator.
(6) Upon being released, the liquidator shall cease to hold office.
(7) Where a liquidator is released under the provisions of this section, a copy of the order releasing the liquidator shall, within 10
days after the making thereof, be lodged by the liquidator with the Registrar.
Division 6 – Effect on other Transactions
190. Voidable transactions – (1) A conveyance assignment or transfer of property, or charge thereon made or created, a payment made and a obligation incurred, by an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10, whose liabilities exceed the value of its assets, after taking account of any contingent and prospective liabilities, in favour of a creditor, or of any person in trust for any creditor or in favour of a connected person or a related company or in favour of a person or company in trust for such connected person or related company and the effect is to give such creditor or any surety or guarantor for the debt due to such creditor or such connected person or related company, a preference, priority or advantage over other creditors, shall, if the winding-up of the company commences within 6 months or, in the case of a connected person or related company within 2 years, after the date of the conveyance, transfer, charge, payment or obligation incurred by the company, be void against the liquidator unless:
(a) the payment to the creditor, or to the person in trust for such creditor, or to the connected person or related company, or to the person or company in trust for such connected person or related company, was in good faith and in the ordinary course of the company’s affairs; or
(b) the conveyance assignment or transfer of the property was in good faith and to a bona fide purchaser and for consideration received by the company at the time of the conveyance assignment or transfer; or
(c) in the case of a charge created or obligation incurred, the company received cash or other consideration at the time of, and in consideration for, the creation of the charge, at least equal to the total amount secured by the charge.
(1A) The payment to a connected person or related company shall not be considered to be in good faith if such person or company who received
the payment knew or had reason to suspect that the company's liabilities exceeded its assets after taking account of any contingent
and prospective liabilities, and that the effect of the payment would be to give that person or company a preference, priority or
advantage over other creditors.
(1B) Where the payment or transfer of property was made with a view to obtaining the release of a guarantor or surety in whole or in part,
the transaction shall be treated as a preference given to the guarantor or surety as well as to the creditor and the guarantor or
surety shall be treated as a creditor who has received a benefit to the extent to which he or she has been or is liable to be released
from the guarantee or surety.
(1C) Where the payment or transfer of property has been set aside as a voidable preference, the creditor shall, on repayment, have the
same remedies against the guarantor or surety and against any property securing the guarantee or surety as he or she would have had,
if the company, had not made the payment to the creditor. No proceedings shall however be capable to being brought to enforce any
security against property where this will prejudice a bona fide purchaser of the property, or some interest therein, without notice of the facts alleged to have the effect of constituting a preference.
In such circumstances only the personal remedy shall lie.
(1D) The claimant shall be able to proceed at his or her option either:
(a) directly against the guarantor or surety without joining the creditors; or
(b) against the creditor; joining the guarantor or surety unless the creditor waives the requirement.
(2) A floating charge on the property of an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 created within 12 months
of the commencement of the winding-up shall, unless it is proved that immediately after the creation of the charge, the value of
the assets of the company exceeded the amount of its liabilities, taking account of contingent and prospective liabilities, be invalid,
except to the amount of any money actually advanced or paid or the actual price or value of goods sold or supplied to the company
at the time of, or subsequently to the creation of, and in consideration for, the charge together with interest on that amount at
the rate of 5% per annum or such other rate as may be prescribed by Regulations, unless the charge has the effect of giving security
for a past consideration.
191. Sales other than at proper value – (1) Where any property, business or undertaking has been acquired by an international company or foreign company registered under Part
10 for a consideration within a period of 1 year before the commencement of the winding-up of the company from a person or company
who at the time of the acquisition was a connected person or a related company, the liquidator may recover from the person or the
company from which the property, business or undertaking was acquired any amount by which the cash consideration paid by the company
for the acquisition exceeded the value of the property, business or undertaking at the time of its acquisition.
(2) Where any property, business or undertaking has been sold by a company registered pursuant to this Act or foreign company registered
under Part 10 to a connected person or related company for a consideration within a period of 1 year before the commencement of the
winding-up of the company, the liquidator may recover from the person or company to which the property, business or undertaking
was sold, any amount by which the value of the property, business, or undertaking at the time of the sale exceeded the consideration.
(3) Where the property, business or undertaking of an international company, or a foreign company registered under Part 10X, has been
transferred, charged or sold, or agreed to be transferred, charged or sold to, or in favour of, a third party, in payment of a debt
or obligation of a connected person or related company, within 1 year of the commencement of the winding-up, the liquidator may recover:
(a) from that third party any amount by which the value of the property, business or undertaking, at the time of the transfer, charge or sale, or the agreement to transfer, charge, or sell, exceeded the consideration received by the company; or
(b) where the company received no consideration as defined in subsection (4), recover, subject to subsection (5), the property, business
or undertaking from the third party, free from any charge created thereon by the company, which shall be void.
(4) For the purpose of this section and section 190, an individual is considered to be a connected person:
(a) where the individual is a director or substantial shareholder of the company; or
(b) where the individual is connected with such an individual as aforesaid, –
and for this purpose, a person is regarded as a substantial shareholder of a company if the person, alone or together with persons
connected with that person, controls the composition of its board of directors or holds, or controls, more than half of the voting
power of the company or more than half of its issued shares or share capital.
(4A) For the purposes of this section and section 190, a related company has the meaning assigned to it in section 4 of this Act; and
(4B) In this section and section 190 “consideration” means full consideration in money or money’s worth, equal at least
in value, to the value of the property conveyed assigned, transferred, or sold, or to the total amount secured by the charge, as
the case may be.
(5) Despite this section and section 190, the Court, on application, shall have discretion in appropriate circumstances to grant relief
and shall refuse recovery in whole or in part if:
(a) the person from whom recovery is sought received the money or property in good faith and has altered his or her position in the reasonably held belief that the payment or transfer to him or her was validly made and was not liable to be set aside; and
(b) in the opinion of the Court it would be unjust to order recovery in whole or in part, as the case may be.
192. Disclaimer of onerous property – (1) Where:
(a) a part of the property of an international company consists of—
(i) an estate or interest in land burdened with onerous covenants; or
(ii) shares or stocks in companies; or
(iii) unprofitable contracts; or
(iv) any other property that, for whatever reason, is unprofitable or not readily saleable; and
(b) the mere interest in the contract or property binds the international company, or is likely to bind the international company,
to the payment of any sum of money or the disposition of any assets of the international company, –
the liquidator of the company, even if he or she has endeavoured to sell or has taken possession of the property or exercised any
act of ownership in relationship thereto, subject to this section, by writing signed by him or her, at any time within 12 months
after the commencement of the winding-up, may disclaim the property and shall forthwith send a copy thereof to a person affected
thereby of whom he or she has actual notice; but where any such property has not come to the knowledge of the liquidator within 1
month after the commencement of the winding-up, the power of disclaiming may be exercised at any time within 12 months after he or
she has become aware thereof.
(2) A disclaimer by the liquidator of an international company shall operate to determine, as from the date of disclaimer, the rights,
interests and liabilities of the company, and the property of the company, in or in respect of the property disclaimed, but shall
not, except so far as it is necessary for the purpose of releasing the company and the property of the company from liability, affect
the rights or liabilities of any other person.
(3) A liquidator of an international company is not entitled to disclaim any property if;
(a) an application in writing has been made to him or her by any person interested in the property requiring him or her to decide whether he or she will or will not disclaim; and
(b) the liquidator has not, within the period of 2 months after the receipt of the application, or such further period as may be allowed by the Court, given notice to the applicant that he or she intends to disclaim; and,
(c) in the case of a contract, the liquidator after such an application in writing, does not within that period or further period
disclaim the contract, –
the company is taken to have adopted it.
(4) An interested person aggrieved by any disclaimer by the liquidator under this section within 60 days of the date of that disclaimer,
may apply to the Court to have the disclaimer set aside and, if the Court so orders, the disclaimer shall be set aside and shall
be void ab initio.
(5) A party to a contract with an international company in respect of which winding up has commenced, which contract has not been disclaimed
by the liquidator, either with or without requiring the liquidator to elect whether he or she disclaims the contract, may require
the liquidator:
(a) to state whether he or she intends to endeavour to perform the contract so far as the same remains to be performed on the part of the company; and
(b) if the liquidator fails to state within 2 months after receipt of a notice by him or her requiring him or her so to do that he
or she so intends, –
that party, with the consent of all other parties, if any, other than the liquidator, without being liable in damages for rescission
of the contract, may rescind the contract and any amount recoverable by the company pursuant to such rescission may be thereupon
recovered by the liquidator from the other party or parties and any amount recoverable from the company pursuant to such rescission
may be proved for in the winding-up by such other party or parties:
PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT a liquidator does not become personally liable for the performance of the contract by reason only that he or she states whether or
not he or she proposes to endeavour to perform it, unless he or she makes such statement fraudulently.
(6) Upon application by any person interested in any property the subject of a disclaimer, the Court may make an order for the vesting
of the property in or the delivery of the property to the person entitled thereto subject to such terms and conditions, if any, as
it thinks fit.
Division 7 – Offences
193. Offences by officers of companies in liquidation – (1) A person commits an offence who, being a past or present officer of an international company which is being wound up:
(a) does not to the best of his or her knowledge and belief fully and truly discover to the liquidator all the property real and personal of the company and how and to whom and for what consideration and when the company disposed of any part thereof, except such part as has been disposed of in the ordinary way of the business of the company; or
(b) does not deliver up to the liquidator or as he or she directs—
(i) all the real and personal property of the company in his or her custody or under his or her control and which he or she is required by law to deliver up; or
(ii) all books and papers in his or her custody or under his or her control belonging to the company and which he or she is required by all to deliver up; or
(c) within the 6 months next before the commencement of the winding up or at any time thereafter—
(i) has concealed any part of the property of the company to the value of $50 or upwards, or has concealed any debt to or from the company; or
(ii) has fraudulently removed any part of the property of the company to the value of $50 or upwards; or
(iii) has concealed, destroyed, mutilated or falsified, or has been privy to the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of, any book or paper effecting or relating to the property or affairs of the company; or
(iv) has made or has been privy to the making of any false entry in any book or paper affecting or relating to the property or affairs of the company; or
(v) has fraudulently parted with, altered or made any omission in, or has been privy to parting fraudulently with, altering or making any omission in, any document affecting or relating to the property or affairs of the company; or
(vi) by any false representation or other fraud, has obtained any property for or on behalf of the company on credit which the company has not subsequently paid for; or
(vii) has obtained on credit, for or on behalf of the company under the false pretence that the company is carrying on its business or has a current certificate of incorporation, any property which the company has not subsequently paid for; or
(viii) has pawned, pledged or disposed of any property of the company which has been obtained on credit and has not been paid for, unless such pawning, pledging or disposing was in the ordinary way of business of the company; or
(d) wilfully makes any material omission in any statement relating to the affairs of the company; or
(e) knowing or believing that a false debt has been proved by any person fails for a period of 1 month to inform the liquidator thereof; or
(f) prevents the production of any book or paper affecting or relating to the property or affairs of the company; or
(g) is guilty of any false representation or other fraud for the purpose of obtaining the consent of the creditors of the company or any of them to an agreement with reference to the affairs of the company or to the winding up;
or
(h) has attempted to account for any part of the property of the company by making entries in the books of the company showing fictitious
losses or expenses.
(2) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1)(a), (b), (d) or (c)(i), (vii) or (viii) if the accused proves that he or she had
no intent to defraud and to a charge under subsection (1)(c)(iii) or (iv) or (f) if he or she proves that he or she had no intent
to conceal the state of affairs of an international company or to defeat the law.
(3) Where a person pawns, pledges or disposes of a property in circumstances which amount to an offence under subsection (1)(c)(viii),
the person who takes in a pawn or pledge or otherwise receives the property knowing it to be pawned, pledged or disposed of in those
circumstances commits an offence.
(4) A person who within Samoa offers any shares or debentures to the public or to any member of the public, not being a company for subscription
or purchase commits an offence.
(5) A person who in any return, report, certificate, balance sheet or other document required by or for the purposes of this Act wilfully
makes a statement false in any material particular knowing it to be false commits an offence.
194. Frauds by officers – A person commits an offence who, while an officer of an international company which is subsequently wound up:
(a) by false pretences or by means of any other fraud has induced any person to give credit to the company; or
(b) with intent to defraud creditors of the company has made or caused to be made any gift or transfer of or charge on, or has caused or connived at the levying of any execution against, the property of the company; or
(c) with intent to defraud creditors of the company has concealed or removed any part of the property of the company since or within 2 months before the date of any unsatisfied judgement or order for payment of money obtained against the company.
195. Repealed by s75 of Act 1991, No.10.
196. Repealed by s76 of Act 1991, No.10.
Division 8 – Defunct Companies
197. Powers of the Registrar to strike companies off the Register – (1) The Registrar may strike off from the Register the name of an international company:
(a) which ceases to comply with any of the requirements of section 6 or 7;or
(b) for failure to pay its prescribed annual renewal fee or penalties, as specified in the regulations; or
(c) for failure to comply with a direction from the Registrar under section 23(2);or
(d) which is not carrying on business or in operation; or
(e) which has been directed by the Minister under section 225 to cease to carry on its business; or
(f) which is being wound up, and has no liquidator acting or whose affairs have been fully wound up; or
(g) where the trustee company that has been providing the registered office for the international company informs the Registrar, pursuant
to section 81(2A), that it no longer intends to provide the registered office for the company.
(1A) Where the Registrar intends to strike off the name of an international company under this section, the Registar shall give notice
of such intention to the company at its last registered office in Samoa.
(1B) Where the international company is being struck off the register for failure to pay its prescribed annual renewal fee or penalties,
pursuant to subsection (1)(b), the notice by the Registrar shall state that if an answer showing cause to the contrary is not received
within 2 months from the date thereof, the Registrar will strike the name of the company off the register.
(1C) Where the international company is being struck off the register for any other reason, the notice by the Registrar shall state that
if an answer showing cause to the contrary is not received within 1 month from the date thereof, the Registrar will strike the name
of the company off the register.
(2)At the expiration of the time specified in the letter forwarded to an international company under subsection (1), or such further
time as the Registrar deems fit, he or she may, unless cause to the contrary is previously shown, strike the name of the company
off the register and the company shall thereupon be dissolved; however:
(a) the liability, if any, of every officer and member of the company shall continue for a period of 2 years following the date upon which the company is dissolved and may be enforced as if the company had not been dissolved; and
(b) nothing in this subsection affects the liability of the company to be wound-up pursuant to this Act.
(2A) Upon the request of an international company, such request having been approved by a special resolution of the members and being
accompanied by a statutory declaration signed by all of the directors to the effect that the international company no longer carries
on business and has no outstanding liabilities to creditors and no assets (other than assets represented by cash), the Registrar
shall, unless he or she has cause to believe that the contents of the directors’ statutory declaration are incorrect, strike
the name of the international company off the register and the international company shall thereupon be dissolved and subsection
(2) applies, with necessary adaptation .
(3) Where an international company has been struck off the Register, the Registrar may:
(a) upon the application of the international company or a trustee company on its behalf, or a creditor, member or liquidator of the company; and
(b) if he or she is satisfied that due cause has been shown and that it would be just for the name of the company to be restored to the Register; and
(c) upon payment of the prescribed fee and any outstanding fees and penalties; and
(d) upon the filing of such document and statutory returns as the Registrar may direct, –
restore the company to the Register; and upon restoration of the company to the Register, the company is taken to have continued in
existence as if it had never been struck off the Register.
(4) Where costs, charges or fees or arrears, if any, thereof are paid under subsection (3) in respect of any international company which
is being wound up, such costs, charges, fees and arrears are taken to be costs of the liquidation.
(5) Despite subsections (1) and (2), where an international company, or an officer of an international company, notifies the Registrar
in writing that the company does not intend to pay the prescribed annual renewal fee on the date when it next becomes due and payable,
the Registrar may, on that date strike the name of the company off the register without having given to the company any notice of
his or her intention to do so; and the striking-off of the name of the company is taken to have been done under subsection (2).
(6) Where a company has been dissolved, the Court may, at any time within 2 years of the date of the dissolution, on an application being
made for the purpose by the liquidator of the company or by any other person who appears to the Court to be interested, make an order
upon such terms as the Court thinks fit, declaring the dissolution to have been void, and thereupon proceedings may be taken which
might have been taken as if the company had not been dissolved.
(7) The person on whose application an order is made under subsection (6) shall, within 7 days after the making of the order, or such
further time as the Court may allow, deliver to the Registrar for registration a sealed copy of the order and if that person fails
to do so he or she commits an offence.
198. Registrar to act as representative of defunct company in certain events – (1) Where after an international company has been dissolved it is proved to the satisfaction of the Registrar:
(a) that the company, if still existing, would be legally or equitably bound to carry out, complete or give effect to some dealing, transaction or matter; and
(b) that in order to carry out, complete or give effect thereto some purely administrative act, not discretionary, should have been
done by or on behalf of the company, or should be done by or on behalf of the company if still existing, –
the Registrar may as representing the company or its liquidator under the provision of this section do or cause to be done any such
act.
(2) The Registrar may execute or sign any relevant instrument or document adding a memorandum stating that he or she has done so in pursuance
of this section, and such execution or signature shall have the same force, validity and effect as if an international company still
existing had duly executed such instrument or document.
199. Outstanding assets of defunct company to vest in Registrar – (1) Where, after an international company has been dissolved, there remains any outstanding property, real or personal, including choses
in action, and whether within or outside Samoa which was vested in the company or to which it was entitled, or over which it had
a disposing power at the time it was so dissolved, but which was not got in realised upon or otherwise disposed of or dealt with
by the company or its liquidator, such property except uncalled capital, for the purposes of the following subsections and despite
any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, by the operation of this section shall be and become vested in the Registrar for all
the estate and interest therein, legal or equitable, of the company or its liquidator at the date the company was dissolved, together
with all claims, rights and remedies which the company or its liquidator then had in respect thereof.
(2) The Registrar may sell or otherwise dispose of or deal with such property either solely or in concurrence with any other person who
may have an interest in the same in such manner, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as he or she thinks fit
with power to rescind any contract and resell or otherwise dispose of or deal with such contracts, instruments and documents as he
or she thinks necessary.
(3) The moneys received by the Registrar in the exercise of any of the powers conferred on him or her by this section shall be applied
first in defraying all costs, expenses, fees and commissions incidental thereto and thereafter shall be dealt with under the Unclaimed
Money Act 1964.
(4) Any action for or in respect of any moneys paid under the provisions of subsection (3) shall be against the Registrar as the nominal
defendant and shall be instituted within 2 years next after the dissolution of an international company after which time no such
action shall be instituted and the claim shall be absolutely barred.
PART 10X
FOREIGN COMPANIES
200. Interpretation – (1) This Part applies to a foreign company only if it has a permanent establishment or is carrying on business within Samoa and is not
registered under the Companies Act 2001.
(2) In this section, “carrying on business” includes:
(a) establishing or using a share transfer or share registration office or administering, managing or otherwise dealing with property situated in Samoa as an agent, legal personal representative or trustee, whether by servants or agents or otherwise; and
(b) for a foreign company in respect of which the Authority has by public notice so specified, suffering or permitting the company’s
own shares to be dealt with, issued, transferred or made the subject of options or agreements within Samoa or permitting or suffering
dealings, transfers or agreements to sell or purchase or options therefor in respect of securities, notes or rights issued by it
to the public, or by reason of which the public might acquire an interest in the company, to be made within Samoa, –
and “to carry on business” has a corresponding meaning.
(3) Despite subsection (2), a foreign company shall not be regarded as carrying on business within Samoa by reason only of the fact that
within Samoa it:
(a) is or becomes a party to any action or suit or any administrative or arbitration proceeding or of any claim or dispute; or
(b) conducts unsolicited isolated transactions that are completed within a period of 31 days not being one of a number of similar transactions repeated more than twice; or
(c) enters into transactions or dealings with one or more international companies or foreign companies of a nature which do not entail
the creation of a permanent establishment in Samoa.
(4) A foreign company shall not have a permanent establishment in Samoa or carry on business within Samoa unless it is registered as
a foreign company under this Part and a foreign company which acts and an officer thereof who permits the foreign company to act
in contravention of this subsection commit an offence against this Act.
(5) A foreign company shall not carry on in Samoa any business which a company incorporated under this Act may not carry on.
(6) The Minister may, by public notice, order that any foreign company be restricted from carrying on any specified business with Samoa
and may by public notice impose conditions subject to which any specified business may be carried on by a foreign company within
Samoa.
(7) Registration of any company under this Part shall be conclusive of the fact that, for the purposes of the definition of “foreign
company” in section 2, the company is validly incorporated outside of Samoa.
201. Documents, etc., to be lodged by foreign companies – (1) A foreign company shall, prior to establishing a place of business or carrying on business within Samoa, lodge with the Registrar for filing:
(a) a certified copy of the certificate of its incorporation or registration in its place of incorporation or origin or a document of similar effect; and
(b) a certified copy of its charter, statute or memorandum and articles or other instrument constituting or defining its constitution; and
(c) a list of its directors and officers containing similar particulars with respect to its directors as are by this Act required to be contained in the register of the directors and secretaries of a company incorporated under this Act; and
(d) where a list includes directors resident in Samoa who are members of the local board of directors, a memorandum duly executed by or on behalf of the foreign company stating the powers of the local directors; and
(e) a memorandum of appointment or power of attorney under the seal of a foreign company or executed on its behalf in such manner as to be binding on the company and, in either case, verified in the manner prescribed by the Registrar stating the name of a trustee company that is authorised to accept on its behalf service of process and any notices required to be served on the company; and
(f) the address of the principal office of the trustee company which is to be the registered office of the foreign company in Samoa; and
(g) a declaration in the form prescribed by the Registrar setting out particulars of its authorised capital, –
and the Registrar shall register the company under this Part by filing the documents.
(2) Where a memorandum of appointment of power of attorney lodged with the Registrar in pursuance of subsection (1)(e) is executed by
a person on behalf of the company, a copy of the deed or document by which that person is authorised to execute the memorandum of
appointment of power of attorney, verified by statutory declaration in the manner prescribed by the Registrar shall be lodged with
Registrar and the copy shall for all purposes be regarded as an original.
(3) A foreign company shall have as its registered office in Samoa the principal office of a trustee company.
(4) On the registration of a foreign company under this Part or the lodging with the Registrar of particulars of a change or alteration
of name and on payment of the prescribed fee, the Registrar shall issue a certificate in the prescribed form under his or her hand
and seal which certificate is prima facie evidence in all courts of the particulars mentioned in the certificate.
(5) The registration of a foreign company under this Part, shall on payment of the prescribed fee, be renewable from year to year and
the provisions of subsections 14(4), (5) and (6) apply, with necessary adaptation to the renewal.
202. Return to be lodged where documents etc. altered – (1) Where a change or alteration is made in:
(a) the charter, statute, memorandum or articles of the foreign company or other instrument lodged with the Registrar; or
(b) the directors of the foreign company; or
(c) the address of the registered office of the foreign company in its place of incorporation or origin; or
(d) the name of the foreign company; or
(e) the powers of any directors resident in Samoa who are members of the local board of directors of the foreign company, –
the foreign company shall within 1 month after the change or alteration lodge with the Registrar particulars of the change or alteration
and such documents as regulations may require.
(2) If a foreign company increases or decreases its authorised share capital it shall, within 30 days after such change lodge with the
Registrar notice of the amount from which and to which it has been so changed.
(3) If a foreign company not having a share capital increases the number of its members beyond the registered number it shall, within
30 days after the increase was resolved on or took place, lodge with the Registrar notice of the increase.
203. Services on foreign companies – A process or document required to be served on a foreign company shall be sufficiently served if addressed to the foreign company and left at or sent by post to its registered office in Samoa, but:
(a) where any such company makes default in filing with the Registrar the name and address of a registered office which is authorised to accept on behalf of the company service of process or notices; or
(b) if at any time the registered office so notified has ceased to exist or for any reason cannot be served, –
a document may be served on the company by leaving it at or sending it by post to any place of business established by the company
in Samoa, or, if no such place of business is established, a document may be served on the company by registered post to any place
of business of the company in the country of its incorporation.
204. Cessation of business in Samoa – If a foreign company ceases to have a place of business or to carry on business in Samoa it shall within 7 days after so ceasing lodge with the Registrar notice of that fact, and as from the day on which the notice is so lodged its obligation to lodge any document, not being a document that ought to have been lodged before that day, with the Registrar shall cease, and the Registrar shall forthwith remove the name of the foreign company from the register.
205. Foreign liquidation – (1) If a foreign company goes into liquidation or is dissolved in its place of incorporation or origin:
(a) the company or, where the company has been dissolved, the person in whom the assets of the company vest by virtue of the law of that place pursuant to the liquidation or dissolution shall, within 1 month after the commencement of the liquidation or dissolution or within such further time as the Registrar in special circumstances allows, lodge or cause to be lodged with the Registrar notice of that fact and, when a liquidator is appointed, notice of such appointment; and
(b) the Registrar shall forthwith appoint a liquidator and, until the winding-up of its affairs in Samoa is completed, the foreign company is taken to continue to exist in Samoa; and
(c) the Court is taken to have ordered that it be wound up.
(2) The liquidator so appointed shall get in all the assets of the foreign company situated in or recoverable in Samoa and shall, in
so doing, have all the powers of a liquidator of an international company incorporated in Samoa.
(3) Before paying, or transferring, to the foreign liquidator any of the assets got in within Samoa the liquidator shall:
(a) pay to the Registrar all penalties, costs, fees, and charges due and owing; and
(b) pay to any person resident in Samoa to whom at the time of the appointment of the liquidator in Samoa any debt was due, incurred
bona fide by the foreign company, in respect of the supply of services to or for the foreign company, the amount of such debt, –
and such penalties, costs, fees, charges and debts payable by the liquidator under this subsection are a charge upon the assets of
the foreign company ranking after the costs of the liquidator appointed by the Registrar but in priority to all other charges and
claims whatsoever.
(4) The provisions of this Act relating to the striking-off from the Register of Companies the names of international companies apply,
with necessary adaptations, to foreign companies.
206. Names of foreign companies – (1) The restrictions upon the registration of the names of international companies shall apply, with necessary adaptations, to the registration
of foreign companies.
(2) If a foreign company is registered, either in error or otherwise, with a name with which it should not have been registered, the
Registrar may, upon 30 days’ notice to the foreign company requiring it to change its name, strike the company from the register
upon default in its so doing.
(3) No foreign company shall use in Samoa, or elsewhere by reference to acts done or to be done in Samoa, any name other than that under
which it is registered under this Part and a foreign company and an officer of the company who knowingly authorises or permits the
default commit an offence.
207. Returns by foreign companies – Regulations may be made prescribing the registers and returns to be kept and made by foreign companies and fixing the times within which the same must be kept and made and the fees and charges payable therefore.
PART 11
MISCELLANEOUS
208. Service of document on companies – A document may be served on a company by leaving it at or sending it by post to the registered office of the company or by leaving it at or sending it by post to, the address in Samoa of the resident agent of the company.
209. Transfer from Samoa of companies incorporated under this Act – (1) An international company incorporated under this Act may, upon obtaining the approval of the Registrar and within 2 months from the
date on which that approval is obtained, apply to the proper officer of a country other than Samoa, or of a jurisdiction within such
a country, by the law of which such transfer is authorised for an instrument transferring the company as if it had been incorporated
under the laws of that other country or jurisdiction and on the date of the instrument of transfer, the company shall, subject to
this section, become a company under the laws of that country or jurisdiction and be domiciled therein.
(2) An international company shall not apply to the Registrar for approval under subsection (1) unless:
(a) that application is authorised by—
(i) where any shares of the company are in existence, holders of not less than three-quarters of such shares of each class; and
(ii) the holders of not less than three-quarters of the company’s debentures, if any, of each class; and
(iii) where the company is limited by guarantee, not less than three-quarters of the guarantee members; and
(iv) all the directors of the company;
(b) the company, not less than 30 days before applying to the Registrar for such approval, has published a public notice in Samoa of its intention to make the application; and
(c) the company lodges with the Registrar an affidavit sworn by a director of the company in which are set out the names and addresses
of its creditors and the total amount of its indebtedness to creditors.
(3) The Registrar shall give his or her approval to an international company applying for its transfer to another country or jurisdiction
if he or she is satisfied that:
(a) the requirement of subsection (2) have been completed with; and
(b) the intended transfer of domicile is unlikely to be detrimental to the rights or proper interests of any of the company’s members, debenture-holders or creditors; and
(c) the company has complied with any provision of this Act with which it should have complied:
PROVIDED THAT the Registrar may make his or her approval conditional upon such provisions as he or she thinks necessary being made by the company
to safeguard the rights and proper interests of any member, debenture-holder or creditor of the company or any class of such members,
debenture-holders or creditors or upon the company taking such steps as he or she considers necessary to remedy any failure to comply
with any provisions of this Act.
(4) Upon an instrument transferring the company to another country or jurisdiction being executed by the proper officer of that other
country or jurisdiction, the company shall forthwith notify the Registrar of the details and the company shall be deemed to have
ceased to be a company incorporated in Samoa from the date when its transfer to that other country or jurisdiction takes effect,
and the Registrar shall remove its name from his or her register:
PROVIDED THAT nothing in this subsection:
(a) prevents such a company from being registered in Samoa to hear and determine any proceedings commenced therein by or against the company before it ceased to be a company incorporated in Samoa; or
(b) takes away or affect the jurisdiction of any Court in Samoa to hear and determine any proceedings commenced therein by or against
the company before it ceases to be a company incorporated in Samoa.
(5) Where an international company notifies the Registrar under subsection (4) that an instrument transferring the company to another
country or jurisdiction has been executed by the proper officer of the other country or jurisdiction and that notification is false,
despite that the Registrar has removed the name of the company from the register under that subsection:
(a) the liability, if any, of an officer and member of the company shall continue and may be enforced as if the company were still registered under this Act; and
(b) the company is liable to be wound up under this Act as if it were still registered under this Act.
210. Transfer to domestic company register – (1) An international company incorporated under this Act, upon obtaining the approval of the Authority and within 60 days from the date
on which that approval is obtained, may apply to the Registrar under the Companies Act 2001 to be registered as a domestic company under that Act.
(2) An international company shall not apply to the Authority for approval under subsection (1) unless:
(a) that application is authorised by—
(i) the holders of not less than three-quarters of each class of shares in the company, if any; and where the company is limited by guarantee to any extent, not less than three-quarters of the guarantee members; and
(ii) the holders of not less than three-quarters of the company’s debentures, if any, of each class; and
(b) not less than 28 days before applying to the Authority for such approval, the company has published in Samoa Gazette a notice of its intention to make the application; and
(c) it lodges with the Authority an affidavit sworn by a director of the company in which are set out the names and addresses of its
creditors and the total amount of its indebtness to creditors.
(3) The Authority shall not give its approval to an international company applying for registration as a domestic company under the Companies Act 2001 unless it is satisfied that:
(a) the requirements of subsection (2) have been complied with; and
(b) the intended transfer is unlikely to be detrimental to the rights or proper interests of any of the company’s members, debenture holders or creditors; and
(c) the company has complied with all the provisions of this Act which it should have complied with, –
and the Authority may make its approval conditional upon the company taking such steps, as the Authority considers necessary to remedy
any failure to comply with this Act.
(4) The international company shall forthwith notify the Registrar when the company is deemed to have ceased to be a company incorporated
under this Act.
211. Costs before Registrar – In respect of any proceedings before the Registrar under the provisions of this Act the Registrar at his or her own discretion may direct that the costs of one party be paid in such amount and by such other party as he or she thinks just.
212. Security for costs – Where an international company is a plaintiff in any court action or other legal proceedings the Court may at any time require sufficient security to be given for costs and stay all proceedings until the security is given.
213. Disposal of shares of shareholder whose whereabouts are unknown – (1) Where by the exercise of reasonable diligence an international company is unable to discover the whereabouts of a registered shareholder
for a period of not less than 10 years the company may cause a notice to be published in a daily newspaper circulating in the place
shown in the register of members as the address of the shareholder stating that the shares, after the expiration of 3 months from
the date of the notice, will be liable to be forfeited to the Registrar.
(2) If after the expiration of 3 months from the date of a notice under subsection (1) the whereabouts of a shareholder remains unknown,
the company may:
(a) transfer the shares held by the shareholder in the company to the Registrar; and
(b) for that purpose, execute for and on behalf of the owner a transfer of those shares to the Registrar; –
and a person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding,
remain liable to pay to the company all money which, at the date of forfeiture was payable by him or her to the company in respect
of the shares, but his or her liability shall cease if and when the company receives payment in full of all such money in respect
of the shares.
214. Power to grant relief – (1) In any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against a person to whom this section applies, if it appears to the Court before which the proceedings are taken that the person:
(a) is or may be liable in respect thereof; and
(b) has acted honestly and reasonably, and
(c) having regard to all the circumstances of the case including those connected with his or her appointment, ought fairly to be
excused for the negligence, default or breach, –
the Court may relieve the person either wholly or partly from his or her liability on such terms as the Court thinks fit.
(2) Where a person to whom this section applies has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him or her in respect
of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust he may apply to the Court for relief, and the Court shall have the
same power to relieve him under this section as it would have had if it had been a Court before which proceedings against him or
her for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.
(3) The persons to whom this section applies are:
(a) officers of an international company; and
(b) persons employed by an international company as auditors, whether or not they are officers of the company; and
(c) experts within the meaning of this Act; and
(d) all persons, including receivers and managers or liquidators, who are appointed or directed by the Court or the Registrar to carry out any duty under this Act in relation to an international company.
215. Irregularities in Proceedings – (1) No proceedings under this Act shall be invalidated by any defect, irregularity or deficiency of notice or time unless the Court or
the Registrar is of opinion that substantial injustice has been or may be caused thereby which cannot be remedied by any order of
the Court or direction of the Registrar and the Court or the Registrar may, if it or he or she thinks fit, make an order or direction
declaring that such proceeding is valid despite any such irregularity or deficiency.
(2) Without affecting subsection (1) or of any other provision of this Act, where any omission, defect, error or irregularity, including
the absence of a quorum at any meeting, has occurred in the management or administration of an international company whereby any
breach of any of the provisions of this Act has occurred, or whereby there has been default in the observance of the memorandum or
articles of the company or whereby any proceedings at or in connection with any meeting or purported meeting have been rendered ineffective,
including the failure to make or lodge any declaration of solvency the Court or the Registrar:
(a) may, either of its or his or her own motion or on an application lodged by any interested person, make such order or direction as it or he or she thinks fit to rectify or cause to be rectified or to negate or modify or cause to be negatived or modified the consequences in law of any such omission, defect, error or irregularity, or to validate any act, matter or thing rendered invalid by or as a result of any such omission, defect, error or irregularity; and
(b) shall before making any such order or direction satisfy itself or himself or herself that such an order would not do injustice to the company or to any member or creditor thereof, or any other person; and
(c) where any such order or direction is made, may give such ancillary or consequential directions as it or he or she thinks fit; and
(d) may determine what notice or summons is to be given to other persons of the intention to make any such application or of the intention
to make such an order, or direction and whether it should be advertised in any newspaper.
(3) In subsection (2), “meeting” in relation to an international company, includes the following meeting:
(a) a meeting of the company;
(b) a meeting of any class of members of the company;
(c) a meeting of the debenture holders or any class of debenture holders or any class of debenture-holders of the company;
(d) a meeting of the directors of the company or of any committee of the directors;
(e) a meeting of the creditors or any class of the creditors of the company.
(4) The Court or the Registrar, whether the company is in process of being wound up or not, may extend or shorten any time for doing
any act or taking any proceedings allowed or limited by this Act or any regulations hereunder upon such terms, if any, as the justice
of the case may require and any such extension may be ordered although the application for the same is not made until after the time
originally allowed or limited.
216. Translation of instruments – (1) Where under this Act an international company is required to lodge with the Registrar any instrument, certificate, contract or document
or a certified copy thereof and the same is not written in the English language the company shall lodge at the same time with the
Registrar a certified translation thereof, which shall be authentic for all purposes under this Act. The certified translation may
be contained in the body of the original document or instrument or may be contained in a separate document.
(2) Where under this Act an international company is required to make available for public inspection any instrument, certificate, contract
or document and the same is not written in the English language the company shall keep at its registered office in Samoa a certified
translation thereof.
(3) In this section, “certified translation” means a translation into the English language certified as a correct translation
by the translator before any of the following:
(a) a diplomatic or consular officer of any country;
(b) a notary public, justice of the peace or similar person of any country;
(c) any solicitor in Samoa or similar person of any country;
(d) any other person before whom by any law of Samoa affidavits may lawfully be sworn for use in proceedings in any court in Samoa.
(4) Where an instrument, certificate, contract or document or a certified copy thereof has been filed with the Registrar under this Act
in the English language, an international company may also file a translation of the document into any other language.
(5) The translation of the document must either be certified by the translator, pursuant to subsection (3) or certified by the trustee
company submitting the document as being a true translation executed by a translator fluent in English and that other language.
216A. Documents by electronic transfer – Where a notice or document is required by this Act to be lodged or filed with the Registrar, he may accept a photocopy of the notice or document or a copy by telefax or other electronic means.
216B. Filed memorandum and articles – (1) Where this Act requires that the Memorandum and Articles of a company be sent to the Registrar, unless otherwise specifically provided,
such documents may be delivered in such manner as the Registrar approves.
(2) A signature required on any document referred to in subsection (1) may be printed or otherwise mechanically or electronically reproduced
on the document.
(3) A document with a signature referred to in subsection (2) may be accepted in evidence, despite any provision to the contrary in the
Evidence Ordinance 1961.
216C. Alteration of documents by the Registrar -The Registrar may alter a notice or document, other than an affidavit or statutory declaration, if so authorised by the person who sent him or her the notice or document, or by the representative of that person.
216D. Retention of records of companies struck off the register – (1) The Registrar need not produce any document or other records of an international company that has been struck off the Register, after
7years from the date the company was so struck off the Register.
(2) A trustee company need not retain the records of an international company that has been struck off the Register after 7years from
the date the company was so struck off the Register.
217. Repealed by s89 of Act 1991, No.10.
218. Repealed by s89 of Act 1991, No.10.
219. General Penalty Provisions – (1) A person who knowingly and wilfully:
(a) does or authorises anything which by or under this Act he or she is forbidden to do; or
(b) does not do or refuses to do something which by or under this Act he or she is required or directed to do; or
(c) otherwise contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act, –
commits an offence and, save as hereinafter provided in this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units
and in the case of second or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) A person who commits an offence against any provision of sections 8, 15, 39, 54, 76, 91, 106, and 193 is liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding 100 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or both.(Reference to section “241” deleted by Act 1991, No.10)
(3) A person who commits an offence against any provision of sections 87, 194 and 227 is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both in respect of each such offence and for each second
or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding 1000 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
(Reference to sections “232” and “239” deleted by Act 1991, No.10)
220. Procedure where none laid down – In the event that any act or step is required to be done under this Act and no form is prescribed or procedure laid down in this act or the regulations for doing the same, the Registrar may, in response to an application to him or her, or on his or her own motion, give directions as to the manner in which the same may be done and any act or step done or taken in accordance with his or her directions shall be a valid performance of such act or step.
221. Regulations – The Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, may make regulations prescribing all matters and things required or authorised by this Act to be prescribed or provided or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed or provided, for the carrying out of, or the giving full effect to, the provisions of this Act and its due administration including all or any of the following particular purposes:
(a) prescribing forms to be used for the purposes of this Act and the matters to be specified in such forms;
(b) prescribing forms of applications and other notices under this Act;
(c) fixing the fees and charges to be paid under this Act and the penalties for breaches thereunder, or delegating the power of fixing such fees, charges and penalties to prescribed persons or bodies;
(d) empowering, the employment of non-citizens and non-residents required to provide efficient services for the due administration of this Act, subject to, and on, the following conditions—
(i) any person employed as a barrister or a solicitor must obtain a practicing certificate under the Law Practitioners’ Act 1976; or
(ii) any person employed as a public accountant must obtain a practising certificate under the Public Accountants Act 1984;
(e) delegating to the Minister responsible the function of granting such duty and other concessions as shall in the opinion of the Minister be desirable to facilitate the objectives of the Act.
222. Rules of Court – Rules of court concerning proceedings for the winding-up of international companies and foreign companies and for giving effect to the other provisions of this Act may be made under the Judicature Ordinance 1961.
223. Appeals – (1) An appeal shall lie to the Court in respect of any decision, direction or approval made, given or refused by the Registrar in exercise of his or her powers under the following sections:
(a) section 54(1);
(b) section 54(2)(b);
(c) section 54(2)(c)(ii);
(d) section 54(3);
(e) section 55;
(f) section 78;
(g) section 83;
(h) section 127;
(i) section 129;
(j) section 137;
(k) section 177;
(l) section 197;
(m) section 215;
(n) to (p)Repealed by s89 of Act 1991, No.10).
(2) Pending the determination of an appeal brought under subsection (1), no step shall be taken consequentially upon such decision, direction,
approval, or refusal unless the Court or a Judge or, the Registrar of the Court otherwise orders.
224. Power of exemption – (1) The Authority on application in writing lodged with the Registrar by an international company or a foreign company, may exempt any
person, company or class of persons or companies from all or any part of the provisions of this Act; and may, specify such terms
and conditions as he or she thinks fit in respect of any such exemption; and any such exemption may be revoked at any time in like
manner.
(2) For the purposes of this section a class of companies may be determined by reference to:
(a) the business activities of the company; or
(b) the company’s involvement with any trustee company; or
(c) any other matter as the Authority may determine.
225. Prohibitions by Minister – (1) The Authority, acting on the advice of the Registrar, shall have an absolute right without assigning reasons to issue, by public notice, a direction:
(a) prohibiting the initial incorporation of any international company or class of companies; or
(b) prohibiting the initial registration of a foreign company or class of foreign companies; or
(c) prohibiting the continuation in Samoa of any company or class of companies incorporated outside Samoa; or
(d) directing any international company or foreign company to cease to carry on its business or part of its business either immediately
or within such time as may be specified in the direction.
(2) A direction made under this section may be revoked or varied by the Authority, acting on the advice of the Registrar.
(3) In making a direction under this section the Authority shall not be required to act judicially; and such direction shall be final.
226. No action to lie against certain persons – No action shall lie against the Government or any statutory body or authority of Samoa, the Head of State, or any Minister, any judge or any public officer in respect of anything done or omitted in exercise or purported exercise by the Head of State or any Minister or any statutory body or authority of Samoa, any Judge or any public officer of its or his or her functions or duties under this Act.
226A. Enforcement of indemnity – Where an international company provides in its memorandum or articles that any director, secretary or other officer or servant shall have a right of indemnity in respect of costs charges losses damages or expenses incurred that indemnity (if otherwise enforceable) may be sued upon by any person to whom that indemnity is expressed as extending notwithstanding that such person may not be a signatory to the memorandum or articles (as the case may be) and shall be as binding and enforceable as if contained in a deed executed by the company for the benefit of that person.
227. Certain information to be kept confidential– (1) For the purposes of this section, information or communications of an international company or a foreign company registered under this Act (whether in Samoa or elsewhere) are “information or communications to which this section relates”, if the formation or communication relates to or concerns:
(a) the shareholding in or beneficial ownership of any share or shares in such a company; or
(b) the identity of any member of such a company or the interest (legal or beneficial) of any such member in such a company; or
(c) the management or officers of such a company; or
(d) any of the business, financial or other affairs or transactions of such a company; or
(e) the assets or liabilities of such a company; or
(f) the contents of any register maintained by such a company.
(2) A person or entity commits an offence who:
(a) divulges information or communications to which this section relates; or
(b) attempts, offers or threatens to divulge information or communications to which this section relates; or
(c) induces or attempts to induce other persons to divulge information or communications to which this section relates; or
(d) incites, abets, counsels or procures any person to divulge information or communications to which this section relates; or
(e) is knowingly involved with the divulging of information or communications to which this section relates.
(3) Despite subsection (1) and subject to subsection (4), it is not an offence under this section if information or communications to
which this section relates is divulged to the extent reasonably required in the circumstances:
(a) by an officer of an international company or a foreign company or a trustee company, to the Registrar or the Authority for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Act; or
(b) by an officer of a trustee company to a director of that trustee company, or by a director of a trustee company to the Authority in what he or she believes are the best interests of Samoa to uphold the integrity of the jurisdiction as an offshore financial centre or to other ensure compliance with this Act; or
(c) by an officer of an international company or a foreign company to any person for the purpose of carrying on the business of the company:
PROVIDED THAT the phrase “carrying on the business of the company” does not include the compliance with any demand or request for information by any foreign government or any court or tribunal of any country other than Samoa where the divulging of the information will, or is likely to, result in the payment of any tax, other penalty or any fine by the company; or
(d) by an officer of an international company or a foreign company to any foreign government or any court or tribunal of any country other than Samoa but only if and to the extent that the court in Samoa so directs having been satisfied that the information is required and will be used solely for the purposes of an investigation or prosecution of any person in relation to the sale, or laundering of the proceeds of sale of any prohibited narcotic substances, whether that sale or laundering occurred in Samoa or elsewhere; or
(e) by any person to a liquidator, or to an officer of an international company, foreign company or trustee company in the performance of his or her duties as an officer; or
(f) by an officer of an international company or a foreign company to a member of the company consent to such disclosure of that company consent to such disclosure (or otherwise in accordance with section 107);or
(g) by an officer of an international company or a foreign company to any other person where all of the directors of that company consent to such disclosures; or
(h) by the Registrar in making available for inspection and copying under section 28(1A), a copy of the company’s memorandum and articles of association and any alterations to them; or
(i) by the Registrar or any public officer or any statutory body or authority of Samoa in vetting, verifying and investigating applicants for all off-shore licences and registrations issued by the Government of Samoa pursuant to any offshore finance legislation, including the International Banking Act 2005, the International Insurance Act 1988 and the Trustee Companies Act 2017;or
(j) by the Registrar or any public officer in making available for inspection an index of company names and their registered offices; or
(k) by the Registrar to a domestic or foreign agency responsible for the prevention and suppression of terrorism, if the information is required for the purposes of the prevention and suppression of terrorism; or
(l) by the Money Laundering Prevention Authority or any other domestic or foreign agency responsible for the prevention of money laundering if the information is required for the purposes of enforcement of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007 or any other law making provisions in relation to the prohibition or control of money laundering activities; or
(m) by the Registrar or the Minister to any other person if the Registrar or the Minister believes the divulging of the information or communication to be—
(i) in the best interests of Samoa; or
(ii) necessary to uphold the integrity of the jurisdiction as an offshore financial centre; or
(ii) necessary to ensure compliance with any provisions of this Act; or
(n) by any person to ensure compliance with the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007 and the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Act 2002.
(4) Despite subsection (3), the Authority may in its absolute discretion:
(a) prohibit any disclosure of any information permitted by this Act; or
(b) require that any information that is provided be subject to any restriction on its disclosure, or the giving of an undertaking
that it shall be kept confidential.
(5) In recognition of the desirability of maintaining confidentiality in respect of the activities of all the international companies
and foreign companies registered under this Act, the Authority may do all things which, in its opinion, are necessary to give effect
to the provisions of this section.
(6) This section applies to an international company and to a foreign company to the extent to which that information relates to any:
(a) branch of the foreign company in Samoa; or
(b) a business which the company conducts in Samoa; or
(c) to a person associated with the company who is a lawful resident of Samoa.
(7) Nothing in this section prevents the Court from requiring any person to produce documents or to give evidence in any criminal proceedings
or in any civil proceedings alleging fraud or other dishonesty, if the document or evidence is relevant in such proceedings under
laws of Samoa.
227A. Court proceedings relating to confidential information – (1) All civil proceedings relating to international companies commenced in any Court:
(a) under the provisions of this Act; or
(b) for the purpose solely of determining the rights or obligations of officers, members or holders of debentures; or
(c) relating to any appeal from a decision concerning proceedings referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), –
shall be heard in camera, and no details of the proceedings may be published by any person.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Court orders that:
(a) the hearings are to be open to the public; or
(b) that publication may be made of all or any part of the proceedings.
227B. Procedures for obtaining court orders for the disclosure of confidential information – (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (5), a Court may order that the records and registers of an international company are to be deposited with the Registrar’s registers and records relating to that company are to be made available by the Registrar for inspection in accordance with the order of the Court, if:
(a) in any proceedings for winding-up an international company the Court is satisfied that the international company or any officer of the company has failed to comply with any provision of this Act; or
(b) an international company or any officer of the company is convicted by any Court or any offence under this Act.
(2) No application in any court proceedings may be made for an order requiring the production of documents in accordance with subsection
(1) unless notice of the application, together with copies of all supporting documents, are served on:
(a) the Registrar, prior to the application being heard, and at a time which is sufficing for the Registrar to make arrangements to be represented at the hearing of the application; and
(b) all persons who are to be the subject of the order to produce and deposit the documents.
(3) A Court may dispense with the requirement to comply with subsection (2)(b) only if it is satisfied on evidence produced by the applicant
that the interest of justice require that the order be made without notice being given to a person under subsection (2)(b), including
evidence indicating a real likelihood that the documents will be destroyed, removed from the jurisdiction or otherwise handled so
as to defeat the interests of justice.
(4) Where a court makes an order under subsection (1) without service being required under subsection (2)(b), the Court shall:
(a) require the service of the order, and the application and all supporting documents, on all persons who are the subject of the order, and may other person likely to be affected by the order; and
(b) fix a date for the further hearing of the application at which all persons affected by the order shall be entitled to be heard; and
(c) at the further hearing, either confirm the order, or vacate the order if the court considers that its continuation is not in the
interest of justice having regard to the provisions of this law.
(5) In any case where subsection (4) applies, there shall be no right to inspect documents deposited with the Registrar until the Court
confirms the order under subsection (4)(c).
(6) This section applies to the exclusion of any other rule of procedure or right of action existing under the laws of Samoa.
228. No confiscation – There shall be no compulsory acquisition on expropriation of the property of international companies and foreign companies or their investor, situated in Samoa except:
(a) in accordance with the due process of law; and
(b) for a public purpose defined by law; and
(c) with payment of compensation as defined by law.
228A. Form of company registers and records – (1) Subject to section 103 of this Act, any register, records, accounts or documents required to be kept by an international company pursuant
to this Act may be kept in written, magnetic, electronic or any other data storage form, provided that the international company
can readily produce legible printed evidence of its content.
(2) Any register, records, accounts or documents required to be kept by the Registrar pursuant to this Act may be kept in written, magnetic,
electronic or any other data storage form, provided that a legible printed copy of its content can be produced.
228B. Asset protection – (1) This section applies to an international company where the articles of that international company state that the section shall so
apply.
(2) In this section:
“expropriation” means any act of confiscation, compulsory acquisition, nationalisation or any similar act;
“membership interest” means:
(a) any interest in a share of an international company; or
(b) any other interest of a person where that interest arises from or in connection with the fact that the person is a member of an international company;
“specified person” means the person or persons nominated in the articles of an international company for the purposes of this section;
“specified event” means any event stated in the articles of an international company to be a specified event in respect
of one or more of the members of that international company.
(3) The articles of an international company may provide that on the happening of any specified event (including without limitation where
any foreign government expropriates any membership interest of a member of an international company) then the provisions of this
section apply.
(4) Upon the occurrence of any specified event:
(a) the membership interest of any member of an international company affected by that event shall automatically vest in the specified person and if more than one specified persons, to those specified persons in the proportions and in the manner stated in the articles of the international company; and
(b) no other person (including the original owner) shall have any rights in or to the membership interest.
(5) The holder of a membership interest in an international company is entitled to nominate one or more specified persons and if more
than one specified person is nominated by a holder of a membership interest, the proportions and manner in which the membership interest
shall vest, in each of those specified persons, shall be stated.
(6) A holder of a membership interest in an international company shall be entitled at any time, and from time to time, to nominate or
remove a specified person by notice in writing to the international company.
228C. Certificate of good standing – (1) The Registrar shall, upon request by any person, issue a certificate of good standing under his or her hand and seal certifying that a company incorporated or registered under this Act is of good standing if the Registrar is satisfied that:
(a) the name of the company is on the Register; and
(b) the company has complied with its obligations under the principal Act and has paid all fees, renewal fees and penalties due and
payable thereunder.
(2) The certificate of good standing issued under subsection (1) shall contain a statement as to whether:
(a) the company is in the process of being wound up and dissolved; or
(b) any proceedings to strike the name of the company off the register have been instituted.
(3) A certificate of good standing issued by the Registrar under subsection (1) is prima facie evidence of the matters contained therein.
PART 12
SHARES AND DEBENTURES
Division 1 - Interpretation
229. Repealed by s87 of Act 1991, No.10.
Division 2 - Prospectuses
230-239. Repealed by s87 of Act 1991, No.10.
Division 3 - Restrictions on Allotment
240-248. Repealed by s87 of Act 1991, No.10.
PART 13
APPLICATION OF OTHER ACTS
249. Exemptions and privileges of international companies – (1) For the purposes of this section “foreign currency” includes:
(a) notes, coins, postal notes, money orders, bills of exchange, promissory notes, drafts, letters of credit and travellers’ cheques payable or expressed otherwise than in Samoa; and
(b) rights and instruments of title “securities” include shares, stocks, bonds, debentures, debenture stocks, Treasury bills and notes, and units or sub-units of a unit trust; and
(c) deposit receipts in respect of the deposit of securities and documents of title to securities; but
(d) does not include bills of exchange or promissory notes.
(2) Despite anything contained in any other enactment:
(a) an international company and a foreign company registered under Part 10 other than an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 except where the income is derived by such company in carrying on business in Samoa shall be exempt from the payment of income tax and from the payment of any other direct or indirect tax or impost or stamp duty upon its transactions, contracts, securities and other dealings and upon its profits and gains; and
(b) an international company and a foreign company registered under Part 10 other than an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 shall be exempt from the payment of income tax and from the payment of any other direct or indirect tax or impost in respect of any dividends or earnings of, or upon any interest earned by, such company attributable to or paid upon the shares or securities of any international company or foreign company registered under Part 10 that are beneficially owned by another international company or by a person who is not a resident of Samoa, except where the income is derived by way of dividend, interest, royalty or any other means of distribution paid by a trustee company from income of that trustee company which is taxable in Samoa; and
(c) no international company or foreign company registered under Part 10 shall be required to:
(i) deposit any money in any public account; or
(ii) file any accounts, returns, reports or records other than is required by this Act, and where applicable the International Banking Act 2005 or the International Insurance Act 1988.
(3) There shall be no currency and exchange control restrictions or regulations, and no foreign exchange levy or impost payable, in respect
of:
(a) the taking or sending of any foreign currency or security out of Samoa by an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 other thank an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 or by an officer or employee of such a company for or on behalf of the company, except—
(i) where the security is payable in the currency of Samoa and was not issued by an international company; or
(ii) where the security or foreign currency is owned or controlled by a natural person resident in Samoa or a domestic company, other than a trustee company; or
(b) the transfer of the interest of any person in any security by an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 other thank an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 or by an officer of employee of such a company for or on behalf of the company except—
(i) where the security is payable in the currency of Samoa and was not issued by an international company; or
(ii) where such person is a natural person resident in Samoa or a domestic company other than a trustee company;
(c) the drawing or negotiating of any bill of exchange or promissory note or the transfer of any security or the acknowledgment of any debt or the making of any payment, by an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 other thank an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 or by an officer or employee of such a company for or on behalf of the company—
(i) as consideration for receiving any payment or acquiring any property elsewhere than in Samoa; or
(ii) as consideration for acquiring a right, whether actual or contingent, to receive any payment or to acquire any property elsewhere than in Samoa; or
(d) the creation or transfer of a right, whether actual or contingent, to receive any payment or acquire any property elsewhere than in Samoa or the disposal or otherwise dealings with any money, securities or property held or payable elsewhere than in Samoa by an international company or foreign company registered under Part 10 other thank an international bank licensed under the International Banking Act 2005 or by an officer or employee of such a company for or on behalf of the company, other than—
(i) as consideration for receiving any payment or acquiring any property in Samoa;
(ii) as consideration for acquiring a right, whether actual or contingent, to receive any payment or acquire any property in Samoa; or
(iii) as consideration for the discharge of a debt payable in Samoa.
(4) No international company or foreign company registered under Part 10 shall:
(a) unless it is an international bank licensed to carry on domestic banking business under International Banking Act 2005,carry on business with, or acquire any assets from—
(i) any natural person ordinarily resident in Samoa; or
(ii) any domestic company which is not a trustee company; or
(b) own an interest in land or real estate situated in Samoa other than a lease referred to in subsection 5(e);
(c) make any disposition to or grant or settle any property (including shares or debentures) on—
(i) any natural person ordinarily resident in Samoa; or
(ii) any domestic company which is not a trustee company; or
(d) make any disposition or grant or settle any property outside Samoa in the currency of Samoa; or
(e) carry on banking or trust business, unless it is licensed under an enactment authorising it to carry on that business; or
(f) carry on business as an insurance or reinsurance company or insurance manager unless it is licensed under an enactment authorising
it to carry on that business.
(5) For the purpose of subsection (4)(a),an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 shall not be treated
as carrying on business in Samoa with a domestic company by reason only that:
(a) it makes or maintains deposits with a company carrying on banking business in or from within Samoa; and
(b) it makes or maintain professional contact with solicitors, barristers, accountants, trustee companies, investment advisers or similar persons carrying on business in or from within Samoa; and
(c) it prepares or maintains books and records within Samoa; and
(d) it holds meetings of its directors and members in or from within Samoa; and
(e) it holds a lease of property for use as an office which it has established from which to communicate with members or where books and records of the company are prepared or maintained, or, being a licensee under the International Banking Act 2005, from where it maintains and operates its business; and
(f) it holds shares, or debentures or other securities in another company incorporated or registered under this Act; and
(g) shares, debentures or other securities in the company are owned by any company incorporated or registered under this Act.
(6) An international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10 that contravenes subsection (4) commits an offence and is liable
on conviction to a fine not exceeding 10 penalty units for every day that the offence has continued and an officer of the company
who knowingly permits the contravention commits the same offence and is liable upon conviction to a like fine.
(7) It is an offence for an international company or a foreign company registered under Part 10, or an officer or employee of such company,
to take or send, or cause or permit to be taken or sent out of Samoa, money or securities which are owned or controlled by a natural
person ordinarily resident in Samoa or by a domestic company which is not a trustee company.
250. Exemption of non-resident recipients of income – A natural person not resident in Samoa shall not be subject to the imposition of any fee, impost, tax, levy, dues or excise in relation to any income derived by the non-resident person, other than where the income is derived:
(a) by that non-resident person in the course of carrying on business in Samoa or through a permanent establishment of the non-resident in Samoa; or
(b) by that non-resident person by way of dividend, interest, royalty or any other means of distribution, paid by a domestic company other than a trustee company.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1
(Section 20)
POWERS OF AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
1. To carry on any business, other than a business which it is prohibited by the Act or the regulations from carrying on, which may seem to the company capable of being conveniently carried on or calculated directly or indirectly to enhance the value of or render profitable any of the company’s property or rights.
2. To enter into or be a party to any transaction or document.
3. To acquire, hold, dispose of or deal with any information or rights or property of any kind.
4. To acquire, hold, dispose of or deal with the whole or any part of the undertaking of any other company, association or business.
5. To dispose of or otherwise deal with the whole or any part of its undertaking or business.
6. To assume any duties, obligations or liabilities.
7. To acquire any rights or interests.
8. To provide or procure provision of any services.
9. To lend to and borrow.
10. To procure its registration or recognition in any place outside Samoa.
11. To create and extinguish liabilities and rights and interests.
12. To issue shares, debentures and options, and to take shares, debentures and options and to redeem and forfeit the same.
13. To employ or retain person in and about its business or the business of any other company or person.
14. To give indemnities and guarantees and obtain indemnities and guarantees.
15. To take out insurance of all kinds whether over the property or rights of the company or not.
16. To promote any other company.
17. To make gifts, donations and wagers which may lawfully be made whether the same may, or may not, be for the purpose of advancing its business.
18. By way of settlement or other dealing or disposition to give the right to a person not a member of the company to share in the whole or any part of its gains or profits to the exclusion of its members provided that in exercising such power no distribution of gains or profits shall be made pursuant to such settlement disposition or other dealing which would exceed the amount properly distributable as a dividend or properly capable of being returned as capital surplus were such distribution a distribution to some or to all of the members of the company.
19. To do any of the things which it may do in association with any other person or company and as principal or agent or as trustee or for its own benefit.
20. To promote any other business.
21. To distribute any of the property of the company among the members, in kind or otherwise.
22. To give security by charging uncalled capital.
23. To grant a floating charge on the undertaking or property of the company;
24. To procure the company to be registered or recognised as a body corporate in any place out of Samoa.
25. To make provision in connection with the cessation of the whole or part of the business of the company, or of any subsidiary of the company, for the benefit of any subsidiary of the company, for the benefit of employees or former employees of the company or of a subsidiary of the company or for the dependent of such employees or former employees.
26. To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the exercise of the other powers of the company.
27. To do all other things which are not prohibited by or under the Act or the regulations made thereunder or otherwise by the laws of Samoa.
SCHEDULE 2
(Section 25)
TABLE A:
ARTICLES FOR MANAGEMENT OF
AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
Interpretation
1. In these Articles words and expressions, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires, shall have the same meaning as in the International Companies Act 1988 and further:
“Secretary” means any person appointed to perform the duties of a secretary of the company;
“the Act” means the International Companies Act 1988;
“the office” means the registered office of the company in Samoa;
“the Seal” means the common seal of the company.
Issue of shares
2. Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, but subject to the Act, shares in the company may be issued by the directors, or, in the case of a branch of the company established outside Samoa, by the directors of the local board, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and any shares may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, as the directors, subject to any ordinary resolution of the company, determine.
Share warrants
3. No share warrant shall be issued by the company except upon a request in writing by the person whose name is for the time being upon
the register of members of the company as the holder of the share or stock in respect of which the share warrant is to be issued,
and there shall be no objection that the request was signed by the person making the same before this name was entered in the register
as such holder, provided always that a share warrant may be issued upon a request in writing by a person who subscribed the memorandum
of the company in respect of one or more of the shares in respect of which he has subscribed the memorandum, despite the fact that
the name of such subscriber has not been and will not be entered in the register of members as a shareholder.
4. No share warrant shall be issued in respect of any shares on which there is any unpaid liability.
5. A request to the company for the issue of a share warrant shall be in such form and authenticated by such statutory declaration or other evidence as to the identity of the person making the same and of his or her right or title to the share or stock as the directors shall from time to time require and shall be lodged at the office of the company.
6. Before the issue of a share warrant the certificate, if any, then outstanding in respect of the share intended to be included in it shall be delivered up to the directors.
7. Shares warrants shall be issued under the seal or the branch seal of the company or branch of the company established outside Samoa and be signed by one director and by the secretary or such other person as the directors may appoint for that purpose or, in the case of a branch, by a member of the local board or such other person as the directors may appoint for that purpose.
8. Each share warrant shall relate to such number of shares and be in such language (provided always that an authentic English translation is provided on the same form) and form as the directors shall think fit.
9. Coupons payable to bearer, or such number as the directors shall think fit, shall be attached to share warrants providing for the payment of the dividends upon and in respect of the shares or stock included therein, and the directors shall provide, as they shall from time to time think fit, for the issue of fresh coupons to the bearers for the time being of share warrants when the coupons attached thereto shall be exhausted.
10. Each coupon shall be distinguished by the number of the share warrant to which it belongs and by a number showing the place it holds in the series of coupons belonging to the warrant. The coupons shall not be expressed to be payable at any particular period, nor shall they contain any statement as to the amount which shall be payable; and shall not be payable in Samoa currency.
11. Upon any dividend being declared to be payable upon the shares specified in a share warrant, the directors shall publish an advertisement in any newspaper they shall think fit or otherwise give such notice as they think fit stating the amount per share or per centum payable, the date of payment and the serial number of the coupon to be presented; and thereupon any person presenting and delivering up a coupon of that serial number at the place, or one of the places, stated in the coupon or in the advertisement, shall be entitled to receive at the expiration of such number of days, not exceeding 30, after so delivering it up as the directors shall from time to time direct the dividend payable on the share certified in the share warrant to which the coupon shall belong, according to the notice which shall have been given by advertisement or notice.
12. The company shall be entitled to recognise an absolute right in the bearer for the time being of any coupons so advertised a aforesaid for payment to such amount of dividend on the share warrant whereto the coupon shall belong as shall have been as aforesaid declared payable upon presentation and delivery of the coupon and the delivery of such coupon shall be a good discharge to the company accordingly.
13. If any share warrant or coupon be worn out or defaced the directors may, upon the surrender thereof for cancellation, issue a new one in its stead.
14. If any share warrant or coupon be lost or destroyed the directors may, upon the loss or destruction being established to their satisfaction and upon such indemnity being given to the company as they shall think adequate, issue another bearer share warrant or coupon in lieu thereof.
15. In every case provided for by Articles 13 and 14 a fee of $10.00, exclusive of all expenses attending the investigation of evidence of loss or destruction and of an indemnity to the corporation, shall be paid to the company by the person availing himself of those Articles.
16. No person shall as bearer of a share warrant be entitled to attend or vote, or exercise in respect thereof any of the rights of a member, at any general meeting of the company, or sign any requisition for or aid in calling any general meeting unless 7 days at least before the day appointed for the meeting, in the first case, and unless before the requisition is left at the office, in the second case, he shall have deposited the share warrant at the office or such other place as the directors appoint, together with a statement in writing of his or her name and address, and unless the share warrant shall remain so deposited until after the general meeting, or any adjournment thereof, shall have been held. The names of more than one as joint bearer of a share warrant shall not be received.
17. There shall be delivered to the person so depositing a share warrant a certificate stating his or her name and address, and the number of shares or the amount of stock represented by the share warrant so deposited by him and a voting card specifying the number of votes which the warrant so deposited entitled him to cast at a specified general meeting. The production of such a voting card at that specified general meeting shall entitled the bearer thereof to attend and vote at that general meeting in the same way as if he were a registered member of the company in respect of the shares or stocks specified in the certificate. Upon delivering up the said certificate to the company the share warrant in whereof it shall have been given shall be returned. The certificate may be as follows-
International Company
No...
This is to certify that ................................. of ................................... has, in accordance with the Articles of the company, deposited the undermentioned share warrant in respect of which he is entitled to attend the general meeting of the company to be held at ................................... on the .................... day of ................................ 20...
Dated this ......................... day of ....................................... 20...
............................
Secretary
18. No person as holder of any warrant shall be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a member, save as hereinbefore expressly provided in respect of general meetings, without producing such warrant and stating his or her name and address, and, if and when the directors so require, permitting an endorsement to be made thereon the fact, date, purpose and consequence of its production.
19. If the bearer of a share warrant shall surrender it to be cancelled, and shall therewith lodge at the office a declaration in writing, signed by him, in such form and authenticated in such manner as the director require, requesting to be registered as a member in respect of the share specified in the share warrant, and stating in such declaration his or her name and address, he shall be entitled to have his or her name entered as a member in the register of members of the company in respect of the shares specified in the share warrant so surrendered.
20. Every share warrant shall be transferable by delivery.
Redeemable shares
21. Subject to the Act, any share may be redeemable shares and such shares is liable to be redeemed by the company. Until the directors otherwise resolve, such shares shall be redeemable upon the repayment of the amount paid up thereon. Such shares shall be classified as redeemable shares and shall be referred to as such in any certificate or warrant relating to such shares and in the registered of members; but in no circumstances shall they be redeemable in Samoa currency.
Share capital and variation of rights
22. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, may, whether or not the company is being wound up, be varied by special resolution of the company with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class. To every such separate general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, but so that the necessary quorum shall be 2 persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third of the issued shares of the class and so that any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.
23. The rights conferred upon the holders of shares of any class issued with preferred or other special rights shall, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of the further shares ranking equally therewith or in priority thereto.
24. The company may exercise the powers of paying commissions provided that the rate per centum, or the amount of the commission paid or agreed to be paid shall be disclosed in the manner required by the Act and the commission shall not exceed the rate of 10 per centum of the price at which the shares in respect whereof the same is paid are issued or an amount equal to 10 per centum of that price, as the case may be, unless the amount or rate of commission proposed to be paid has at least 21 days before payment been notified to all persons entitled to receive notices of general meetings and no such person has objected in writing. Such commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The company may also on the issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.(s49 repealed by Act 1991, No.10)
25. Except as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the company as holding any share upon any trust, and the company shall not be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise, even when having notice thereof, any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or unit of a share or, except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided, any other rights in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.
26. A person whose name is entered as a member in the register of members shall be entitled without payment to receive a certificate under the seal of the company in accordance with the Act but in respect of a share or shares held jointly by several persons the company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders.
27. The company shall have a first and paramount lieu on every share for all money, whether presently payable or not, called or payable at a fixed time in respect of that share, and the company shall also have a first and paramount lien on all shares registered in the name of a single person for all money presently payable by that single person or his or her estate to the company; but the directors may at any time declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The company lien, if any, on a share shall extend to all dividends payable thereon.
28. The company may sell, in such manner as the directors think fit, any shares on which the company has a lien but no sale shall be made unless a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, nor until the expiration of 14 days after a notice in writing, stating and demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the share, or the person entitled thereto by reason of his or her death or bankruptcy.
29. To give effect to any such sale the directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the shares comprised in any such transfer, and he or she shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his or her title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale.
30. The proceeds of the sale be received by the company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue, if any, shall, subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the shares before the sale, be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the date of the sale.
Calls on shares
31. The directors may from time to time, in respect of shares having a par value, make calls upon the members in respect of any money unpaid on their shares, whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium, and not by the conditions of allotment thereof made payable at fixed times and each member shall, subject to receiving at least 30 days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment, pay to the corporation at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his or her shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the directors may determine.
32. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed and may be required to be paid by installments.
33. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
34. If a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate not exceeding 10 per centum per annum as the directors may determine, but the directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part.
35. Any sum which by the terms of issue of a share becomes payable on allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date on which by the terms of issue the same becomes payable, and in case on non-payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if the sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
36. The directors may, on the issue of shares, differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.
37. The directors may, if they think fit, receive from any member willing to advance the same all or any part of the money uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him or her, and upon all or any part of the money so advanced may, until the same would, but for the advance become payable, pay interest at such rate not exceeding, unless the members of the company in general meeting or by writing signed by them shall otherwise direct, 10 per centum per annum as may be agreed upon between the directors and the member paying the sum in advance.
Transfer of shares
38. Subject to these Articles any member may transfer all of any of his or her shares other than share warrants by instrument in writing in any usual or common form or in any other form which the directors may approve. The instrument shall be executed by or on behalf of both the transferor and the transferee; and the transferor shall remain the holder of the shares transferred until the transfer is registered and the name of the transferee is entered in the register of members in respect thereof.
39. The instrument of transfer must be left for registration at the office of the company together with such fee not exceeding $20.00 as the directors from time to time may require accompanied by the certificate of the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer, and thereupon the company shall subject to the powers vested in the directors by these Articles register the transferee as a shareholder and retain the instrument of transfer.
40. The directors may decline to register any transfer of shares on which the company has a lien.
Transmission of shares
41. In case of the death of a member the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he or she was a sole holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the company as having any title to this interest in the shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased joint holder from any liability in respect of any share which had been jointly held by him or her with other persons.
42. A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of a member may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time properly be required by the directors and subject as hereinafter provided, elect either to be registered himself or herself as holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him or her registered as the transferee thereof, but the directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the share by that member before this death, bankruptcy or insolvency.
43. If the person so becoming entitled elects to be registered himself or herself, he or she shall deliver or send to the company a notice in writing signed by him or her stating that he so elects. If he or she elects to have another person registered he or she shall testify his or her election by executing to that person a transfer of the share. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Articles relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfers of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death insolvency or bankruptcy of the member had not occurred and the notice of transfer were a transfer signed by that member.
44. Where the registered holder of any shares dies or becomes bankrupt or insolvent, his or her personal representative or the assignee of his or her estate, as the case may be, shall, upon the production of such evidence as may from time to time be properly required by the directors in that behalf, be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages, and to the same rights whether in relation to meetings of the corporation, or to voting or otherwise, as the registered holder would have been entitled to if he or her had not died or become bankrupt or insolvent; and where two or more persons are jointly entitled to any share in consequence of the death or insolvency or bankruptcy of the registered holder they shall, for the purpose of these Articles, be deemed to be joint holders of the share.
Forfeiture of shares
45. If a member fails to pay any call or installment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of the call or installment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him or her requiring payment of so much of the call or installment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued.
46. The notice shall name a further day, not earlier than the expiration of 30 days from the date of service of the notice, on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
47. If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared in respect of the forfeited shares and not actually paid before the forfeiture.
48. A forfeited share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors think fit and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit.
49. A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall notwithstanding remain liable to pay to the company all money which, at the date of forfeiture, was payable by him or her to the company in respect of the shares, together with interest at the rate of 10 per centum per annum from the date of forfeiture on the money for the time being unpaid if the directors think fit to enforce payment of such interest, but his or her liability shall cease to the extent that the company receives payment of money on respect of the shares.
50. A declaration in writing that the declarant is a director or the secretary of the company, and that a share in the company has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the declaration, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share.
51. The company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a forfeited share on any sale or disposition thereof and may execute a transfer of the share in favour of the person to whom the share is sold or disposed of and he or she shall thereupon be registered as the holder of the share, and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his or her title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the share.
52. The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
53. A company shall not be liable to account to the person whose shares have been forfeited as aforesaid for any consideration received by it on the sale or other disposition of the forfeited shares in excess of the liability of that person to the company and the company shall be entitled to retain any such excess for its own use and benefit but the directors may resolve to pay any such excess over the person whose shares were forfeited or to his or her personal representative or assigns.
Alteration of capital
54. The company may from time to time by special resolution:
(a) increase the share capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such amount, or may increase the number of its shares of no-par value to such number, as the resolution shall prescribe; and
(b) increase its share capital constituted by shares of no-par value by transferring reserves or profits to the stated capital, with or without a distribution of shares, but any new shares shall be subject to the same provisions as to transfer, transmission and otherwise as the shares in the original capital.
55. The company may, by special resolution:
(a) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares, or consolidate and reduce the number of the issued shares of no par value;
(b) increase the number of its issued no-par value share without an increase of its stated capital;
(c) subdivide its existing shares or any of them into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by its memorandum;
(d) convert all of its ordinary or preference share capital consisting of shares having a par value into stated capital constituted by shares of no par value;
(e) convert its stated capital constituted either by ordinary or preference shares of no par value into share capital consisting of shares having a par value;
(f) cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken by any person, or which no person has agreed to take;
(g) reduce its share capital, stated capital, any capital redemption fund or any share premium account in any manner and with, and subject to, any incident authorised, and consent required, by law;
(h) convert its issued preference shares into shares which can be redeemed.
General Meetings
56. Any director may whenever he thinks fit convene a general meeting, and general meetings shall be convened on such requisition or in default may be convened by such requisitionists as provided by the Act.
57. Subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles relating to special resolutions and agreements for shorter notice, 14 days’ notice at the least, inclusive of the day for which notice is given specifying the place, the day and the hour of meeting and the general nature of the business to be considered thereat shall be given to such persons as are entitled to receive such notice from the company.
Proceedings at General Meetings
58. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Save as herein otherwise provided, 1 member holding more than 50% of the issued shares giving the right to attend and vote at general meetings or 2 members present shall be a quorum. For the purposes of this Articles “member” includes a person attending as a proxy or as representing a company which is a member or as representing the committee, trustee or other person having the management of the estate of a person who is of unsound mind or whose person or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way under the law of Samoa relating to mentally-disordered persons.
59. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of members, shall be dissolved; in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, or to such other day and at such other time and place the directors may determine.
60. The chairperson, if any, of the board of directors shall preside as chairperson at every general meeting of the company or if there is no such chairperson, or if he or she is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the holing of the meeting or is unwilling to act, the members present shall elect one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting.
61. The chairperson may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
62. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is, before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, demanded by any member present in person, by representative or by proxy. Unless a poll is so demanded a declaration by the chairperson that a resolution has on a show of hands been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book containing the minutes of the proceedings of the company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn.
63. If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner and either at once or after an interval or adjournment or otherwise as the chairperson directs, and the result of the poll shall be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded but a poll demanded on the election of a chairperson or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith.
64. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or a poll, the chairperson of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall have a second or casting vote.
65. Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of shares, at meetings of members or classes of members each member entitled to vote may vote in person or be represented and vote by proxy or by attorney and on a show of hands every person present who is a member or representative of a member shall have one vote, and on a poll every member present in person or by representative shall have one vote for each share he holds.
66. In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders; and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members.
67. A member who is of unsound mind or whose person or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way under the law relating to mentally-disordered persons may be represented by and vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his or her committee or by his or her trustee or by such other person as properly has the management of his or her estate, and any such committee, trustee or other person may vote by representative or proxy.
68. No member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him or her in respect of shares in the company have been paid.
69. No objection shall be realised to the qualification of any voters except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote object to is given or tendered, and every vote not disallowed at such meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairperson of the meeting, whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
70. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, in the common or usual form, under the hand of the appointor or of his or her attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a company, under seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy may but need not be a member of the company. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll.
71. Where it is desired to afford members an opportunity of voting for or against a resolution the instrument appointing a proxy shall be in the following form or a form as near thereto as circumstances admit -
International Company
I/We, ...................................................... being a member/members of the above named company, hereby appoint of
or, failing him,
of , as my/our proxy to vote for me/us on my/our behalf at the general meeting of the company to be held on the day of
20 , and at any adjournment thereof.
Signed this day of 20 .
*in favour or
This form is to be used against the resolution.
* Strike out which is not desired (unless otherwise instructed, the proxy may vote as he thinks fit).
72. The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a certified copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the office of the company, or at such other place within Samoa as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, not less than 5 days before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote, or, in the case of a poll, not less than 5 days before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid.
73. A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or attorney shall be valid despite the previous death or unsoundness of mind of the principal or revocation of the instrument or of the authority under which the instrument was executed, or the transfer of the share in respect of which the instrument is give, if no intimation in writing of such death, unsoundness of mind, revocation or transfer as aforesaid has been received by the company at its office before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the instrument is used.
74. The bearer of a share warrant shall be entitled to vote only in accordance with article 17.
75. A resolution in writing contain in the one instrument or in several instrument in like form signed by the members, other than bearers of share warrants, holding together more than 75% of the voting rights of the shares having voting rights at a general meeting of the company of which resolution notice has been given in the manner in which notices of general meetings should be given shall be as valid as a resolution or a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the company.
Directors’ appointment, etc.
76. The number of the directors, the names of the first directors and the fees, if any, of the first directors shall be determined in writing by the subscribers of the memorandum or a majority of them.
77. The corporation may from time to time by ordinary resolution increase or reduce the number of directors.
78. The directors shall have power at any time, and from time to time, to appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing directors, but so that the total number of directors shall not at any time exceed the number fixed in accordance with these Articles.
79. The company may by ordinary resolution remove any director and may by ordinary resolution appoint another person in his stead.
80. The remuneration of the directors may be fixed or varied by the company by ordinary resolution and shall be deemed to accrue from day to day; the directors may also be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from meetings of the directors or of any committee of the directors or general meetings of the company or in connection with the business of the company.
81. The directors shall not be required to hold any shares in the company unless the company in general meeting resolves otherwise. A director may be a company whether incorporated in Samoa or elsewhere and may act through a representative or delegate appointed from time to time by written notice lodged with the secretary.
82. The office of director shall become vacant if the director:
(a) ceases to be director by virtue of the Act;
(b) within Samoa or elsewhere is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or makes any arrangement or compromise with his or her creditors generally;
(c) becomes prohibited from being a director by reason of any order made under the Act;
(d) becomes of unsound mind or a person whose person or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way under the law relating to mentally-disordered persons;
(e) resigns his or her office by notice in writing to the company; or
Powers and duties of directors
83. The business of the company shall be managed by the directors who may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the company and may exercise all such powers of the company as are not, by the Act or by these Articles required to be exercised by the company in general meeting, subject, nevertheless, to any of these Articles and to the provisions of the Act.
84. The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt liability or obligation of the company or of any third party.
85. The directors may exercise all the powers of the company in relation to any seal for use outside Samoa and in relation to branch registers and may provide for the establishment of branches of the company outside Samoa in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
86. The directors may from time to time by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or body or persons to be the attorney or attorneys of the company in accordance with section 29(3) of the Act.
87. All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instrument, and all receipts for money paid to the company, shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case maybe, in such manner as the directors from time to time determine.
88. The directors shall cause minutes to be made:
(a) of all appointments of officers;
(b) of the names of the directors present at all meetings of the company and of the directors; and
(c) of all proceedings at all meetings of the company and of the directors.
Such minutes shall be signed by the chairperson of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairperson of the next
succeeding meeting.
89. All resolution in writing signed by members or directors pursuant to the provisions in that behalf contained in these Articles shall be entered in the minute book containing minutes of the meetings of the company or of the directors respectively.
Proceedings of directors
90. The directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit. A director may at any time, and the secretary shall on the requisition of a director, summon a meeting of the directors.
91. Subject to these articles questions arising at any meeting of directors shall be decided by a majority of votes and a determination by a majority of directors shall for all purposes be deemed a determination of the directors. In case of an equality of votes the chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
92. A director may not vote but may (where the total number of directors is less than 3) be counted in the quorum in respect of any contract or proposed contract with the company in which he or she is in any way interested or on any matter arising thereout and a contract entered into by the company in which a director is in any way interested shall be reason thereof be voidable; and every director shall be liable to account to the company for any profits realised by such contract or any office of profit held by him or her by reason of his or her being a director.
93. Any director with the approval of the directors may appoint any person, whether a member of the company or not, to be alternate or substitute director in his or her place during such period as he thinks fit. Any person while he or she so holds office as an alternate or substitute director shall be entitled to notice of meetings of the directors and to attend and vote thereat accordingly, and to exercise all the powers of the appointor in his or her place. An alternate or substitute director shall not be required to hold any share qualification, and shall ipso facto vacate office if the appointor vacates office as a director or removes the appointee from office. Any appointment or removal under this Article shall be effected by notice in writing under the hand of the director making the same.
94. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the directors may be fixed by the directors; bit until so fixed it shall be one less than the total number of directors unless the total number of directors is less than 3, when the quorum shall be all the directors.
95. The directors may act despite any vacancy in their body or failure to appoint the total number of directors fixed by or under these articles but, if and so long as their number is less than the number fixed by or under these articles the necessary quorum of directors or director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of directors to that number or of summoning a general meeting of the company, but for no other purposes.
96. The directors may elect a chairperson of their meeting and determine the period for which he is to hold office, but if no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the chairperson is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the directors present may choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting.
97. The directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors.
98. A committee may elect a chairman of its meetings; if no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting; if no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the chairperson is not present within 14 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the members present may choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting.
99. A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in the case of an equality of votes the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
100. All acts done by any meeting of the directors or of a committed of directors or by any person acting as a director shall, notwithstanding that it is discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified or had never been qualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a director.
101. A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the directors, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held. Any such resolution may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more directors.
Managing directors
102. The directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to the office of managing director for such period and on such terms as they think fit and, subject to the terms of any agreement entered into in any particular case, may revoke any such appointment but such appointment shall be automatically determined if the appointee ceases from any cause to be a director.
103. A managing director shall, subject to the terms of any agreement entered into in any particular case, receive such remuneration, whether by way of salary, commission or participation on profits, or partly in one way and partly in another, as the directors may determine; subject to confirmation by the company by ordinary resolution at the next general meeting.
104. The directors may entrust to and confer upon a managing director any of the powers exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they may think fit, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers, and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of those powers.
Resident directors
105. The directors shall appoint a resident director of the company for such term and at such remuneration and upon such conditions as the other directors and the resident director agree. The appointment of any such resident director may be revoked by the directors.
Resident secretary
106. The resident secretary shall, in accordance with the Act, be appointed by the directors for such term, and upon such conditions as the directors and the resident secretary shall agree. The directors may appoint a general secretary or other secretaries in addition to the resident secretary and subject to the Act fix their respective duties and functions. Any secretary may be removed by the directors subject to the provisions of the Act.
Seal
107. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of the seal, which shall be used only by the authority of the directors or of a committee of the directors authorised by the directors in that behalf, and every instrument to which the seal is affixed shall be signed by or on behalf of a director or by some other person appointed by the directors for the purpose. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of official seals and for the persons by whom any such seal is to be affixed.
Accounts
108. The directors shall cause proper accounting and other records to be kept and shall distribute copies of profit and loss accounts, balance-sheets and such other statements or documents as required by the Act and shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions the accounting and other records of the company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of members not being directors, and no member, not being a director, shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or paper of the company except as conferred by any written law or authorised by the directors or by the company in general meeting.
Dividends and reserves
109. The directors may declare dividends.
110. The directors may from time to time pay to the members such interim dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by the profits of the company.
111. No dividends shall be paid otherwise than out of profits and an unrealised capital surplus arising on the revaluation of unrealised fixed assets shall not be treated as a profit for this purpose. No dividend shall bear interest against the company;
112. The directors may, before declaring any dividend, set aside out of the profits of the company such sums as they think proper as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the directors, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the company may be properly applied, and pending any such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the company or be invested in such investments as the directors may from time to time think fit. The directors may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any profits which they may think prudent not to divide.
113. Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with special rights as to dividend, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares in respect whereof the dividend is paid, but no amount paid or credited as paid on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purposes of this article as paid on the share. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid; but if any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date that share shall rank for dividend accordingly.
114. The directors may deduct from any dividend payable to any member all sums of money, if any, presently payable by him to the company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to the shares of the company.
115. Any dividend may be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or debenture stock of the company or of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and, where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the directors may settle the same as they think expedient, and fix the value for distribution of such specified assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and may vest any such specific assets in trustee as may seem expedient to the directors.
116. Any dividend, interest or other money payable in cash in respect of registered shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of that one of the joint holders who is first named on the register of members or to such person and to such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses or other money payable in respect of the shares held by them as joint holders.
Purchase of own shares
117. The company may by authority of a special resolution purchase its own shares in any manner permitted by the Act.
Capitalisation of profits
118. The directors may resolve that it is desirable to capitalise any part of the amount for the time being standing to the credit of any of the company’s reserve accounts or to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution, and accordingly that such sum be set free for distribution, amongst the members who would have been entitled thereto if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportion, on condition that the same be not paid in cash but be applied either in or towards paying up any amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares held by such members respectively or paying up in full unissued shares or debentures of the company to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up to and amongst such members in the proportion aforesaid or partly in the one way and partly in the other.
119. Whenever such a resolution as aforesaid shall have been passed the directors shall make all appropriations and applications of the undivided profits resolved to be capitalised thereby, and all allotments and issues of fully paid shares or debentures, if any and generally shall do all acts and things required to give effect thereto, with full power to the directors to make such provision by the issue of fractional certificates by payment in cash or otherwise as they think fit for the case of shares of debentures becoming distributable in fractions, and also to authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members entitled thereto into an agreement with the company providing for the allotment to them respectively, credited as fully paid up, of any further shares or debentures to which they may be entitled upon such capitalisation, or as the case may require, for the payment up by the company on their behalf, by the application thereto of their respective proportions of the profits resolved to be capitalised, of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing shares, and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such members.
Notices
120. A notice may be given by the company to any member either personally or by sending it by post to these members at his or her registered address. Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying and posting, by airmail if the address is outside Samoa, a letter containing the notice and to have been effected 10 days after the date of its posting.
121. A notice may be given by the company to the joint holders of a share by giving the notice to the joint holder fist named in the register of members in respect of the share.
122. A notice may be given by the company to the persons entitled to a share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of a member by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter, by airmail if the address is outside Samoa addressed to them by name or by the title of representatives of the deceased or assignee or trustee of the bankrupt or insolvent or by a like description at the address, if any, supplied for the purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or, until such an address has been so supplied, by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death, bankruptcy or insolvency had not occurred.
123. (1) Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised to:
(a) every member, other than holders of share warrants, except those members who have not supplied to the company an address for the giving of notices to them;
(b) every person entitled to a share, other than a share warrant, in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of a member, who but for his or her death, bankruptcy or insolvency would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting; and
(c) the auditor for the time of the company;
(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article, no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
(3) If pursuant to the terms of issue thereof there is endorsed on any share warrant issued by the company a statement that notices
of general meetings of the company shall be advertised in a particular manner notices of all general meetings shall while any such
warrant is outstanding also be given by advertisement in such manner.
Winding-up
124. If the company is wound up the liquidator may divide amongst the members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the company, whether they consist of property of the same kind or not, and may for that purpose set such value as he or she deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members. The liquidator may vest the whole or any part of any such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator thinks fit, but so that no member shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities whereon there is any liability.
Indemnity
125. A director, managing director, agent, auditor, secretary and other officer for the time being of the company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the company against any liability incurred by him or her in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his or her favour or in which he or she is acquitted or in connection with any application under the Act in which relief is granted to him or her by the Court or Registrar in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust.
126. The company may, by special resolution, alter the provisions of its memorandum of association, including those with respect to the objects of the company, in accordance with the procedure specified in Section 19 of the Act.
TABLE B
(Section 57)
TERMS OF DEBENTURE OF A COMPANY
1. This Debenture secures the principal sum shown on its face payable in dollars. (And in no circumstances will there be entitlement hereunder to payment in Samoa currency).
2. The principal sum is payable on demand by the Debenture Holder.
3. Until payment this Debenture will carry interest at the rate (if any) shown on the face of this Debenture on the principal sum payable yearly.
4. The company is not entitled to redeem this Debenture without the Holder’s consent.
5. The provisions of the of the Articles of the company giving the members or any class of the members of the company the right and power to vote and to demand a poll shall, so far as they relate to the company for the period while this Debenture is unredeemed, be suspended and of no effect for any purpose whatsoever and the provisions contained in the International Companies Act 1988 shall apply.
SCHEDULE 3
(Section 30D)
ADDITIONAL POWERS OF A LIMITED LIFE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
1. To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its name;
2. To purchase, take, receive, lease or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal in and with real or personal property, or an interest in it, wherever situated;
3. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets;
4. To lend money to and otherwise assist its members, managers and employees;
5. To purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with shares or other interests in or obligations of other limited liability companies, international or foreign corporations, associations, general or limited partnerships or individuals, or direct or indirect obligations of any government, state, territory, governmental district or municipality;
6. To make contracts and guarantees and incur liabilities, borrow money at such rates of interests as the limited life international company may determine, issue its notes, bonds and other obligations and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of all or any part of its property, franchisees and income;
7. To lend money for its proper purposes, invest and reinvest its funds and hold real property for the payment of funds so loaned or invested;
8. To conduct its business, carry on its operations and have and exercise the powers granted by this Act in any country outside Samoa;
9. To elect or appoint managers, officers, employees and agents of the limited life international company, and define their duties and authority and affix their compensation;
10. To make and alter operating agreements, not inconsistent with its articles of organisation or this Act, for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the limited life international company;
11. To indemnify a member or manager or former member or manager of the limited life international company against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or it in connection with the defence of any action, suit or proceeding, civil or criminal, in which he or she or it is made a party by reason of being or having been such member or manager, except in relation to matters as to which he or she or it shall be adjudged in the action, suit or proceeding to be liable to the company for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duty or to have received improper personal benefit on account thereof; and to make any other indemnification that is authorised by the articles of organisation or by an article of the operating agreement or resolution adopted by the members after notice;
12. To cease its activities and surrender its certificate of incorporation or registration;
13. To have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes for which the limited life international company is incorporated;
14. To become a member of a general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture or similar association, or any other limited liability company;
15. To pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts, profit-sharing plans, ownership interest bonus plans and option plans, and benefit or incentive plans for any or all of its current or former managers, officers, employees and agents;
16. To make donations for public welfare or for charitable, scientific or education purposes.
REVISION NOTES 2008 – 2020/3 March 2021
This is the official version of this Act as at 3 March 2021.
This Act has been revised by the Legislative Drafting Division from 2008 – 2020/3 March 2021 respectively under the authority of the Attorney General given under the Revision and Publication of Laws Act 2008.
The following general revisions have been made:
(a) Amendments have been made to conform to modern drafting styles and to use modern language as applied in the laws of Samoa.
(b) Amendments have been made to up-date references to offices, officers and statutes (e.g. correct reference to Companies Act 2001 and not Companies Act 1955).
(c) Insertion of the commencement date.
(d) Other minor editing has been done in accordance with the lawful powers of the Attorney General.
(i) “Every” and “any” changed to “a/an” or “each” where appropriate
(ii) Present tense drafting style where appropriate:
- “shall be” changed to “is/are”
- “shall be deemed” changed to “is/are taken”
- “shall have” changed to “has”
- “it shall be the duty” changed to “shall”
- “hereby enacted/declared”, “from time to time” removed
(iii) Offence provisions: “shall be guilty” and “shall be liable” changed to “commits”
(iv) Removal/replacement of obsolete, archaic and Latin terms with plain language
- “notwithstanding” changed to “despite”
- “pursuant to” or “in accordance with the provisions of” changed to “under”
- “for the purposes of” changed to “in”
- “in the case of” or “in respect of” changed to “for”
- “save” changed to “except”
- “furnish” changed to “provide” or “submit"
- “mutantis mutandis” changed to “with necessary adaptations”
- “in lieu” changed to “instead”
(v) Numbers in words changed to figures
(vi) Removal of superfluous terms
- “against this Act”
- “and until” after “unless”
- “of this Act” and “of this section”
- “the provisions of”
(vii) Adopted practice of placing “and” or “or” at the end of each paragraph where appropriate.
(viii) Sections14(11), 18B(1), 20A(2) & (6), 21(3), 90(5), (6) & (8), 91(7), 94(4)& (4A), 96(4A), 97(2), 98(1), 99(1), 172(1) & (5), 177(2), 181, 188(1) & (4), 189(1), 190(1)-(1D), 191(4)-(4b), 213(2) and 214(1) were revised and divided into subsections or paragraphs.
(ix) Part numbering changed to decimal
The following amendments have been made to this Act since the publication of the Consolidated and Revised Statutes of Samoa 2007:
Amendments by the International Companies Amendment Act 1998 (No. 33) are included in this Revision Note since it was not included in Revision Note 2008 (published in the Consolidated and Revised Statutes of Samoa 2007).
Section 2 (i) insertion of the terms “Company Limited by Shares”, “Company Limited by Guarantee”, “Company Limited by Both Shares and Guarantee” and “Register of Members” and their respective meanings;
(ii) deletion of the definition for “Member” and replacing with its current form.
Section 6 deletion of the heading, repealing subsection 1 and substituting with its current form.
Section 11 insertion of subsection (6) after subsection (5).
Section 13 repealing subsection (3) and substituting with its current form.
Section 16 repealing subsection (1), (2) and (5) and substituting with its current form.
Section 18 (i) repealing subsection (1) and substituting with its current form;
(ii) repealing subsections (3) and (4).
Section 18A, insertion of new sections after section 18 on “Liability of
18B and 18C members”, “Companies limited by guarantee and companies limited both by shares and by guarantee”, “Change of status”, and “Consequential changes” respectively.
Section 22 repealing paragraph (e) in subsection (2).
Section 23 (i) insertion of the words “or, where permitted by its memorandum, by a resolution of the directors,” after the words “special resolution” in subsection (1).
(ii) deleting the words “within 3 months” and substituting with the words “within 30 days” in subsection (2).
Section 30A deleting the words “of the Principal Act” in subsection (5).
Section 30B (i) deleting the words “of the Principal Act” in subsection (2)(b)
(ii) deleting the words “the Principal Act” and substituting with the words “this Act”.
Section 30C deleting the words “of the principal Act” in subsection (3).
Section 30D deleting the words “of the principal Act”.
Section 30E deleting the words “of the principal Act” in subsection (3).
Section 30G deleting the words “of the principal Act” in subsection (4).
Section 30J deleting the words “of the principal Act” in subsection (4).
Section 30L deleting the words “of the principal Act” in subsection (4), (5), (8), (9) and (10).
Section 30M repealed.
Section 81 deleting the words “within 14 days after the date of the company’s incorporation” and substituting with “at the time of incorporation of the company”.
Section 91 inserting after the words “authorized nominees and representatives in Samoa” the words “if any” in subsection (2) and (3).
Section 105 repealing subsection (1) and substituting with its current form.
Section 151 (i) inserting in subsection (1)(e) the words “or, in relation to companies limited by guarantee or companies limited by both shares and guarantee, to the amount specified in the memorandum” after the words ““which he or she is liable”.
(ii) inserting in subsection (4) the words “or guarantee amount” after the words “balance of any call”.
Section 158 (i) insertion of new subsection (3A) after subsection (3).
(ii) insertion of the words “practice and procedure in Court applications or” after the words “the Head of State prescribing”.
Section 197 (i) deleting the heading and substituting with its current form
(ii) repealing subsection (1) and substituting with its current form.
(iii) repealing subsection (3) and substituting with its current form.
Section 209 repealing subsection (2)(a)(ii) and (iii) and substituting with its current form.
Section 210 repealing subsection (2)(a)(i) and substituting with its current form.
Section 216 (i) insertion of the words “The certified translation may be contained in the body of the original document or instrument or may be contained in a separate document.” after the words “for all purposes under this Act.” in subsection (1).
(ii) deleting the words “specified by section 229A of this Act”.
Section 216A, insertion of new sections after section 216 on “Documents by
216B,216C electronic transfer”, “Filed memorandum and articles”, “Alteration
and216D of documents by the Registrar” and “Retention of records of companies struck off the register” respectively
Section 219 (i) deleting the figures “193 and 241” and substituting with “and 193” in subsection (2)
(ii) deleting the figures “87, 194, 195, 227, 232 and 239” and substituting with the figures “87, 194 and 227”.
Section 225 (i) deleting the words “acting on the advice of Cabinet” and substituting with “acting on the advice of the Registrar” in subsection (1);
(ii) repealing subsection (1)(b) and (c) and substituting with its current form; and
(iii) deleting the words “acting on the advice of Cabinet” in subsection (2) and substituting with “acting on the advice of the Registrar”.
Section 227 (i) deleting the words “subsection 1” and substituting with “subsection 3” in subsection (4);
(ii) inserting after subparagraph (h) subparagraphs (i) and (j) in subsection (4).
Section 228 (i) renumbering the section with a subsection (1) and inserting a new subsection (2).
Section 228B deleting the definition of “membership interest” in subsection (2) and substituting with its current form.
Section 249 insertion of sub-paragraphs (e) and (h) after sub-paragraph (d) in subsection (4).
By the International Companies Amendment Act 2008 (No.11)
Section 2 (i) insertion of substitute definition for “Bearer debenture”;
(ii) insertion of definitions for “Money Laundering Prevention Authority” and “Satisfactory evidence of identity”; and
(iii) amending a reference to another section in the Act in interpretation of the term “Share warrant”.
Sections 9 Section 9 is amended by inserting the words “Except as provided to the contrary in this Act” before the words “Every document” and “Every application” respectively in subsection (1) and subsection (2).
Section 12 Deleting subsection 2A and substituting with its current form.
Section 15 Section 15 was amended by insertions and substitutions in its current form.
Section 15A A new section 15A is inserted after section 15 on “Transitional provisions for bearer debentures”.
Section 22 Insertion of new sub-paragraph (e) in subsection (2)
Section 39 Original section 39 that was repealed by Offshore Centre Legislation Amendment Act 1992/1993 replaced with new section on “Immobilization of bearer shares and share warrants”.
Section 39A Insertion of new section on “Transitional provisions for bearer shares and share warrants to bearer”.
Section 50 Deleting the words “the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of section 49 and” from subsection (6).
Section 66 Deleting subsection (1) and substituting with its current form.
Section 68 Deleting the words “a transferor of any share or bearer debenture” in subsection (1) and substituting with the words used in its current form.
Section 72 Deleting subsection 1A and substituting with new subsection 1A and 1B.
Section 74 Deleting “subsection (1)” from subsection (3), (4) and (5) and replacing with subsection (2).
Section 81 Insertion of new subsection (2A) and (2B) after subsection (2).
Section 83 Deleting the word “shall” and replacing with the word “may” in subsection 1.
Section 106 Original section 106 deleted and substituted with current section.
Section 159 Deleting the words “lodging an annual or other statutory return” in subsection (1)(b).
Section 191 Deleting the words “in subsection (6), the liquidator subject to subsection (7)” in subsection (3) and substituting with the words in its current form.
Section 193 Deleting the words “unless the Minister has given prior consent in writing under Part XII” in subsection (4).
Section 197 (i) deleting paragraph (f) and substituting with its current form; and
(ii) deleting subsection (1A) and substituting with new subsection (1A), (1B), (1C).
Section 216 Insertion of new subsection (4).
Section 219 Deleting existing penalty fines and substituting with current penalties in subsection (1), (2), and (3).
Section 227 (i) deleting the heading “Secrecy” and substituting with “Confidentiality”;
(ii) inserting after the words “by a director of a trustee company to the Minister” the words “the Registrar or a director of any other trustee company,” and by inserting a comma after the words “of Samoa” in subsection (4)(b) [There is an incorrect reference to the word “Minister” in the Amending Act];
(iii) deleting the word “or” at the end of subsection (4)(c);
(iv) deleting the word “and” at the end of paragraphs (f) and (g) of subsection (4);
(v) deleting the full stop at the end of subsection (4)(j) and inserting new paragraphs (k), (l) and (m);
(vi) deleting the words “Provided that the Minister may in the Ministers absolute discretion prohibit any disclosure of any information permitted by this Act” [there is an incorrect reference to the word “Minister” in the Amending Act]; and
(vii) deleting the word “secrecy” in subsection (6) and substituting with the word “confidentiality”.
By the International Companies Amendment Act 2009, No.3
Section 18(1)(c) Paragraphs (c) & (d) were deleted and replaced with new
and (d) paragraphs (c) and (d).
Section 72 Subsections 1(A) and (1B) were deleted and replaced with new subsections (1A), (1B), (1C) and (1D).
Section 106(2) The words “one (1) month” were deleted and replaced with “six (6) months”.
Section 227 Section 227 was deleted and replaced with a new section 227, and new sections 227A and 227B were inserted after that section.
By the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9
Section 39 and 39A Sections 39 and 39A were deleted and substituted
Section 113(1) deleted subsection (1) and substituted.
Section 35 Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No.9.
Section 36 Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No. 9.
Section 37 Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No. 9.
Section 38 Repealed by section 4 of the International Companies Amendment Act 2014, No. 9.
By the International Companies Amendment Act 2015, No.15.
Section 39 Section 39 was amended by insertions and substitution in its current form.
Section 39A Section 39A was amended by insertion and substitution in its current form.
Section 113 Section 113(1) was substituted and added subsection 1A and 1B in its current form.
This Act is administered by
the Central Bank of Samoa.
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URL: http://www.paclii.org/ws/legis/consol_act_2020/ica1988246
