Ex parte: Sakhile Initiative Limited (RF) (CT003Jan2018) [2018] ZACT 1 (18 January 2018)
The Tribunal found that the Applicant had demonstrated good cause for the requested extension. The inability to hold the annual general meeting within the prescribed period was due to delays in finalising financial statements, which were themselves caused by necessary amendments to the Memorandum of Incorporation....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] ZACT 1
- Parties
- Applicant: Sakhile Initiative Limited (RF)
- Court
- Competition Tribunal
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Case Number
- CT003Jan2018
- Procedural Posture
- Administrative Order Application / Ex Parte Application on Papers
- Outcome
- Administrative Order granted; extension of time to hold the 2017 annual general meeting approved.
- Judges
- PJ Veldhuizen
- Legal Topics
- Annual General Meeting Extension, Companies Act Section 61, Memorandum of Incorporation Amendment
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Sakhile Initiative Limited (RF)
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Administrative Order Application / Ex Parte Application on Papers
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Applicant has shown good cause for extension of the time period to hold its 2017 annual general meeting under section 61(7)(b) of the Companies Act.
- 2 Whether the delay in finalising financial statements due to amendments to the Memorandum of Incorporation constitutes sufficient reason for extension.
Ratio Decidendi
The Tribunal found that the Applicant had demonstrated good cause for the requested extension. The inability to hold the annual general meeting within the prescribed period was due to delays in finalising financial statements, which were themselves caused by necessary amendments to the Memorandum of Incorporation. These amendments were essential for determining the value of shares and the exercise of a call option in the Omnia Group Companies. The Tribunal was satisfied that the Applicant had taken all reasonable steps and that the circumstances justified granting the extension.
Court Disposition
Administrative Order granted; extension of time to hold the 2017 annual general meeting approved.
Orders
- The Applicant is granted an extension of the time period within which to hold its 2017 annual general meeting.
- The Applicant must hold its next annual general meeting on or before 20 June 2018.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
IN THE COMPANIES TRIBUNAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
("THE TRIBUNAL")
CASE NUMBER: CT003JAN2018
In the ex parte matter of:
SAKHILE INITIATIVE LIMITED (RF)
APPLICANT
Coram: PJ Veldhuizen
Date of Hearing: Not Applicable – Ex parte Application on Papers
Order delivered: 18 January 2018
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER & REASONS
A. Introduction
1. THE PARTY
1.1. The Applicant is SAKHILE INITIATIVE LIMITED (RF) (“the Applicant”), a public company duly incorporated and existing under the company laws of South Africa, with its principal place of business at Omnia House, No 13 Sloane Street, Epsom Downs, Bryanston, Gauteng, 2021.
B. THE APPLICATION
2. This is an application in terms of Section 61(7) (b) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 ("the Act"), for an Administrative Order, for the extension of the date of holding by the Applicant of its 2017 annual general meeting to a date that is no later than a period of 6 months reckoned from the date of expiry of 15 months from the date of its 2016 annual general meeting or such
other date as determined by the Tribunal.
C. The legislation
3. Section 61 (7) of the Act provides:
A public company must convene an annual general meeting of its shareholders –
(a) initially, no more than 18 months after the company's date of incorporation; and
(b) thereafter, once in every calendar year, but no more than 15 months after the date of the previous annual general meeting, or with an extended time allowed by the Companies Tribunal, on good cause shown.
4. EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE
4.1. The Tribunal has considered the provisions of the Act, set out above and has had regard to the affidavit filed in support of this application by the Applicant's company secretary, ANDA MATWA (“MATWA”).
4.2. MATWA testifies that:
“the Applicant has made all attempts and taken all reasonable endeavours to hold its 2017 annual general meeting during the 2017 calendar and by no later than 20 December 2017, but it is not possible for it and/or it is not in a position to hold such a meeting before the expiry of the 15 months period, that is before 20 December 2017.”
4.3. MATWA explained comprehensively in her affidavit that the reasons for the Applicant's failure or inability to hold the annual general meeting related to the finalisation of the Applicant's financial statements which had been delayed due to amendments which were required to Applicant's Memorandum of Incorporation. These amendments were pertinent to the valuation of the shares held by the Applicant, as a special purpose vehicle, in the Omnia Group Companies.
4.4. MATWA testified further that:
“The amendment to the Applicant’s MOI are critical as they are required in order to determine the manner in which the call option will be exercised and how the value of the shares held by the Applicant in the Omnia Group Companies will be determined and how the call option price for those shares will be determined.”
5. The Tribunal is satisfied that the Applicant has shown good cause as to why it is entitled to the relief sought.
D. Decision
6. The Applicant is granted an Administrative Order in terms of Section 61(7) (b) of the Act and is granted an extension of the time period within which to hold its 2017 annual general meeting.
7. The Applicant is required to hold its next annual general meeting on or before 20 June 2018.
_______________
PJ VELDHUIZEN
MEMBER OF THE COMPANIES TRIBUNAL
CAPE TOWN