Division 16: Office and name

141. Registered office of company

(a)A company shall as from the date of its incorporation have a registered office to which all communications and notices may be addressed.

(b)The company need not carry on business in the premises at the address of its registered office however in this case it must obtain and retain with its records the consent to the company’s use of the premises as its registered office by the person who occupies such place. If such consent is withdrawn, the company must identify a new registered office. The Registrar may require the company to produce evidence of the consent required under this sub-section.

(c)Notice of the situation of the registered office setting out complete address details shall be given in the application for incorporation and notice of any subsequent proposed change therein shall be given in the prescribed form prior to the date of the change to the Registrar who shall record the same.

(d)The inclusion in the annual return of a company of the statement as to the address of its registered office shall not be taken to satisfy the obligation imposed by this section.

(e)The Registrar may give notice to any resident director that it intends to change the address of the registered office to that director’s address if the Registrar believes that:

(i)if the registered office was at a premises in which the company was carrying on business, the company is no longer carrying on business at those premises; or

(ii)if the registered office was not at a premises in which the company was carrying on business, the occupier of those premises has not consented or has withdrawn its consent to the company’s use of those premises as its registered office or such occupier themselves no longer occupies such premises,

(f)If the company has not notified the Registrar of a new registered office address within 28 days of the issue of such notice then the Registrar may so change the registered office address.

142. If a company fails to comply with the requirements of section 141, it shall be liable to a fine of 400,000 kyats.

143. Publication of name by a limited company

Every limited company:

(a)shall display its name at its registered office and at every office or place in which its business is carried on that is open to the public, in a conspicuous position, in letters easily legible and in Myanmar or English characters;

(b)shall have its name engraved in legible characters on its seal (if any); and

(c)shall have its name mentioned in legible Myanmar or English characters in all:

(i) written communications sent by or on behalf of the company; and

(ii)documents issued or signed by or on behalf the company that evidence or create a legal obligation of the company.

144.Penalties for non-publication of name

(a)If a limited company does not conspicuously display its name in manner directed by this Law, it shall be liable to a fine of 50,000 kyats, and every officer of the company, who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default, shall be liable to the same penalty.

(b)If any officer of a limited company, or any person on its behalf, uses or authorizes the use of any seal purporting to be a seal of the company on which its name is not so engraved as aforesaid, or issues or authorizes the issue of any communication or document referred to in section 143(c) wherein its name is not mentioned in manner aforesaid, he shall be liable to a fine of 50,000 kyats, and shall further, in the case of a document evidencing or creating a legal obligation of the company, be personally liable to the same extent as the company if the company fails to discharge the obligation unless:

(i)the person who issued and signed the document proves that the person in whose favour the obligation was incurred was aware or was entitled to assume that the obligation was incurred by the company; or

(ii)the Court is satisfied that it would not be just or equitable for the person who issued or signed the document to be so liable.

Division 17: Meetings and proceedings

145. Directors’ meetings

(a)Subject to the company’s constitution:

(i)a directors’ meeting may be called by a director giving reasonable notice to every other director;

(ii)the meeting may be called or held using any technology consented to by all directors or as provided in the company’s constitution;

(iii)the quorum for a directors’ meeting is two directors or such other number as specified in the company’s constitution and a quorum must be present at all times during the meeting; and

(iv)a resolution must be passed by a majority of the votes cast by the directors entitled to vote on the resolution.

(b)The directors must elect a chair to chair meetings of directors and meetings of the company. If the elected chair is absent from all or part of a meeting, a replacement chair may be elected.

(c)Subject to the constitution, the chair has a casting vote at meetings of directors.

146. Annual general meeting

(a)Subject to this section, a general meeting of every company shall be held as its annual general meeting within eighteen months from the date of its incorporation and thereafter once at least in every calendar year and not more than fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting.

(b)The business of the annual general meeting may, or, where required by this Law or other applicable law, must include the following, even if not referred to in the notice of meeting:

(i)where the company is required to prepare such reports, the consideration of the annual financial report, directors’ report and auditor’s report;

(ii)the election of directors; and

(iii)where the company is required to appoint an auditor, the appointment of the auditor.

(c)The chair must allow a reasonable opportunity for the members to ask questions or make comments about the management of the company.

(d)The company’s auditor must attend the annual general meeting and the chair must allow a reasonable opportunity for the members to ask the auditor questions about the audit, audit report or accounts of the company.

(e)This section does not apply to a small company unless:

(i)the constitution of the company applies this section or includes any similar requirements;

(ii)the members determine to apply this section by passing an ordinary resolution; or

(iii)the Registrar determines that this section should apply.

147. Default in complying with section 146

If default is made in holding an annual general meeting in accordance with the provisions of section 146:

(a)the company and every director or officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats; and

(b)the Court may, on the application of any member of the company, call or direct the calling of an annual general meeting of the company and make such ancillary directions regarding the conduct of the meeting as the Court thinks fit.

148. Statutory meeting of company

(a)Every public company and every company limited by guarantee and having a share capital shall, within a period of not less than 28 days or more than six months from the date at which the company is incorporated, hold a general meeting of the members of the company, which shall be called the statutory meeting.

(b)The directors shall, at least 21 days before the day on which the meeting is held, circulate a report (in this Law referred to as the statutory report) certified as required by this section to every member of the company.

(c)The statutory report shall be certified by not less than two directors of the company, or by the chairman of the directors if authorized in this behalf by the directors, or by the sole director in the case of a company with only one director, and shall state:

(i)the total number of shares allotted, distinguishing between shares allotted for cash and shares allotted as fully or partly paid up otherwise than in cash, and stating in the case of shares partly paid up the extent to which they are so paid up, and in either case the consideration for which they have been allotted;

(ii)the total amount of cash received by the company in respect of all the shares allotted, distinguished as aforesaid;

(iii)an abstract of the receipts of the company and of the payments made up to a date within 7 days of the date of the report, exhibiting under distinctive headings the receipts of the company from shares and debentures and other sources, the payments made, and particulars concerning the balance remaining in hand, and an account or estimate of the preliminary expenses of the company showing separately any commission or discount paid on the issue or sale of shares;

(iv)the names, addresses, nationalities and descriptions of the directors, auditors and secretary, if any, of the company and the changes, if any, which have occurred since the date of the incorporation;

(v)the particulars of any contract, the modification of which is to be submitted to the meeting for its approval, together with the particulars of the modification or proposed modification;

(vi)the extent to which underwriting contracts, if any, have been carried out;

(vii)the arrears, if any, due on calls from directors; and

(viii)the particulars of any commission or brokerage paid or to be paid in connection with the issue or sale of shares to any director or officer.

(d)The statutory report shall, so far as it relates to the shares allotted by the company, and to the cash received in respect of such shares and to the receipts and payments of the company, be certified as correct by the auditors of the company.

(e)The directors shall cause a copy of the statutory report certified as required by this section to be delivered to the Registrar for registration forthwith after the sending thereof to the members of the company.

(f)The directors shall cause a list showing the names, descriptions, nationalities and addresses of the members of the company, and the number of shares held by them respectively, to be produced at the commencement of the meeting, and to remain open and accessible to any member of the company during the continuance of the meeting.

(g)The members of the company present at the meeting shall be at liberty to discuss any matter relating to the formation of the company or arising out of the statutory report, whether previous notice has been given or not, but no resolution of which notice has not been given in accordance with the constitution or this Law shall be passed.

(h)The meeting may adjourn from time to time, and at any adjourned meeting any resolution of which notice has been given in accordance with the constitution or this Law, either before or subsequently to the former meeting, may be passed, and the adjourned meeting shall have the same powers as an original meeting.

(i)If a petition is presented to the Court in the manner provided by Part V or another applicable law for winding up the company on the ground of default in filing the statutory report or in holding the statutory meeting, the Court may, instead of directing that the company be wound up, give directions for the statutory report to be filed or a meeting to be held as the statutory meeting, or make such other order as may be just.

149. In the event of any default in complying with the provisions of section 148, every director of the company who is guilty of or who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

150. Types of general meetings

A general meeting of a company may be classified as:

(a)an annual general meeting held pursuant to section 146;

(b)a statutory meeting held pursuant to section 148; or

(c)a special general meeting which will be any other general meeting of members called pursuant to the rights and procedures set out in this Law, including sub-section 151(a).

151.Calling and holding of general meetings

(a)A general meeting of a company:

(i) must be held for a proper purpose and at a reasonable time and place;

(ii)will be quorate if at least two members are present at all times during the meeting (or such larger number as may be specified in the company’s constitution);

(iii)subject to the company’s constitution, will be chaired by a person elected by the directors, provided that if such person does not attend the meeting the members present will elect the chair;

(iv)subject to the company’s constitution, must be adjourned if members present holding a majority of votes at the meeting agree or direct the chair to do so;

(v)may be attended by the company’s auditor, and the auditor is entitled to receive all notices of meeting and be heard at the meeting on any part of the business of the meeting that concerns the auditor;

(vi)may be called by the chairman of the board from time to time;

(vii)subject to the constitution, may be called by any other director or other person or persons as provided in the constitution;

(viii)must be called by the directors if duly requisitioned by members in accordance with sub-section (b);

(ix)may be called and arranged by members holding not less than one-tenth of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting of the company, provided such members pay the expenses of calling and holding the meeting and call the meeting in the same manner, as nearly as possible, in which meetings of the company may be called by directors; and

(x)may be called by order of the Court if it is impracticable to be called in any other way or if it otherwise thinks just and equitable to do so. The Court may make the order on application by any director or member who would be entitled to vote at the meeting and the Court may make such ancillary directions regarding the conduct of the meeting as the Court thinks fit.

(b)Notwithstanding anything in the constitution, the directors of a company which has a share capital shall, on the requisition of the holders of shares providing not less than one-tenth of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting of the company or by at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at a general meeting, forthwith proceed to call a general meeting of the company if the proposed business to be conducted is of the kind that could properly be considered at a general meeting.

(c)The requisition must be in writing, state the objects of the meeting and any resolution to be proposed, and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered office of the company, and may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more requisitionists.

(d)Save where the directors have reasonably determined that the meeting should not be called under sub-section (b) and notified this fact to the requisitionists, if the directors do not proceed within 21 days from the date of the requisition being so deposited to cause a meeting to be called, the requisitionists, or a voting majority of them, may themselves call the meeting, but in either case any meeting so called shall be held within three months from the date of the deposit of the requisition.

(e)Any meeting called under this section by the requisitionists shall be called in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as that in which meetings are to be called by directors and if the requisitionists ask the company for a copy of the register for this purpose the company must provide it to them.

(f)Any reasonable expenses incurred by the requisitionists by reason of the failure of the directors duly to convene a meeting shall be repaid to the requisitionists by the company, and any sum so repaid shall be retained by the company out of any sums due or to

become due from the company by way of fees or other remuneration for their services to such of the directors as were in default.

(g)Members holding shares providing not less than one-tenth of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting of the company, or at least 100 members who are entitled to vote at a general meeting, may give notice to the company of a proposed resolution to be moved at a meeting of the company.

(h)Any notice under sub-section (g) must be in writing, set out the wording of the proposed resolution and be signed by the members proposing to move it. The notice may also be accompanied by a short explanatory statement.

(i)If the proposed resolution referred to in sub-section (g) is one that could be put at a general meeting and neither the proposed resolution or any accompanying explanatory statement is unduly long or defamatory, then the company must include the notice and any explanatory statement with the next notice of meeting to be sent by the company, provided that the notice need not be sent if the next general meeting is to occur within two months of receipt of the notice of resolution but further provided that the notice must be sent and a general meeting held within 12 months of receipt.

(j)Subject to compliance with the requirements for meeting notification and voting provided under this Law, and further provided that the company must ensure at all times that meetings are held in a manner that enables all members to participate and for the meeting to be properly conducted, a company may provide in its constitution for a general meeting to be called or held using any technology which is available to members.

152. Provisions as to notification of meetings and voting

(a)The following provisions shall have effect with respect to the calling of meetings of a company:

(i)a meeting of a company may be called by not less than 21 days’ notice in writing (or such longer period provided by the company’s constitution), or 28 days notice in writing in the case of a public company; but with the consent of all the members entitled to receive notice of some particular meeting that meeting may be convened by such shorter notice and in such manner as those members may think fit;

(ii)written notice of the meeting of a company shall be given to every member entitled to vote at the meeting, every director and the auditor. The notice may be given using any of the methods set out below, provided that the accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of notice by, any member shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting:

(A)personally;

(B)by post or other direct delivery to the member’s address recorded in the register of members or such other address notified by the member for this purpose;

(C)electronically to the fax number or electronic address notified by the member for this purpose; or

(D)otherwise in the manner specified in the constitution;

(iii)the notice of meeting must:

(A)set out the place, date and time for the meeting;

(B)state the general nature of the meeting’s business;

(C)state whether the meeting is an annual general meeting, statutory meeting or special general meeting;

(D)set out the resolutions to be proposed at the meeting, including whether any are special resolutions or resolutions proposed by members, with any necessary explanatory material;

(E)provide information and instructions regarding the appointment of proxies or corporate representatives, including the time by which notices of such appointments may be received and the manner in which such notices of appointments may be sent; and

(F)include any other information required to be provided by the constitution or under this Law; and

(iv)any shareholder whose name is entered in the register of members of the company shall enjoy the same rights and be subject to the same liabilities as all other shareholders of the same class.

(b)Subject to the company’s constitution, the following provisions shall have effect with respect to voting at meetings of a company:

(i)subject to the rights or restrictions attached to any class of shares, at a meeting of a company:

(A)on a show of hands each member has one vote;

(B)on a poll, each member has one vote for each share they hold;

(C)if a share is jointly held, only one of the named holders is entitled to vote; and

(D)the chair has a casting vote;

(ii)a challenge to any voting rights may only be made at the meeting and must be finally determined by the chair;

(iii)a resolution put to the vote at a meeting must be decided by a show of hands unless a poll is demanded;

(iv)a poll may be demanded on any resolution by:

(A)the chair;

(B)at least five members; or

(C)members with at least 10% of the votes that may be cast on the poll;

(v)the poll may be demanded before a vote on a show of hands is taken or before or immediately after the results of the vote on a show of hands are declared;

(vi)the poll will be conducted in the manner directed by the chair;

(vii)before any vote is taken on a show of hands or a poll the chair must inform the meeting of any proxy votes received and how such votes are to be cast; and

(viii)on a show of hands, a declaration by the chair is conclusive evidence of the result, provided this reflects the show of hands and proxies received.

(c)If for any reason it is impracticable to call a meeting of a company in any manner in which meetings of that company may be called, or to conduct the meeting of the company in manner specified in the constitution of the company or this Law, the Court may, either of its own motion or on the application of any director of the company or of any member of the company who would be entitled to vote at the meeting, order a meeting of the company to be called, held and conducted in such manner as the Court thinks fit, and where any such order is given may give such ancillary or consequential directions as it thinks expedient, and any meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with any such order shall for all purposes be deemed to be a meeting of the company duly called, held and conducted.

153. Appointment of corporate representatives to attend meetings of companies

(a)A company which is a member of another company may, by resolution of the directors, authorize any of its officials or any other individual person to act as its representative at any meeting of that other company, and the person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the company that the company itself could exercise at a meeting of the other company or in voting on a resolution.

(b)A company may appoint more than one person under sub-section (a), however only one representative may exercise those powers at any one time.

(c)In connection with the participation in a meeting of a company by a corporate representative appointed under sub-section (a), the company may request to see evidence of the due appointment of the corporate representative and may by resolution of directors stipulate a form of appointment for this purpose.

154.Appointment of proxies to attend meetings of companies

(a)A member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of a company may appoint a proxy to attend the meeting and exercise the right of the member to votes on their behalf in accordance with this section and subject to the company’s constitution.

(b)The proxy need not be a member of the company and shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the member appointing them that the member itself could exercise at the meeting of the company or in voting on a resolution.

(c)The company may by resolution of directors stipulate the form by which a member may appoint a proxy and if it does this it must send the form to all members. The company may include with the form a list of persons willing to act as proxies.

(d)Whether or not a form has been stipulated under sub-section (c), an appointment of a proxy will be valid if it is signed by the member appointing the proxy and contains the following information:

(i)the member’s name and address;

(ii)the company’s name;

(iii)the proxy’s name; and

(iv)the meetings at which the proxy may be used (which may be all meetings).

(e)For an appointment to be effective the instrument appointing a proxy must be received by the company at least 48 hours prior to the holding of the relevant meeting. The instrument may in all cases be sent to the company’s registered office or to another place, address or number as may be notified by the company in the notice of meeting.

(f)If a company has received more than one instrument from a member appointing a proxy, the last received instrument will be taken to revoke the earlier one.

(g)The instrument appointing the proxy must specify how the proxy is to vote on any resolution, or may provide that the proxy may exercise the voting rights at the proxy’s discretion, and, if manner of voting is specified, the proxy must vote in this way.

(h)If the member would not be entitled to vote on a resolution for any reason, the proxy may not vote on the resolution on behalf of the member.

155. Ordinary resolutions

On any matter where the company is required by the Law or its constitution to pass a resolution the matter may be passed by an ordinary resolution except where the Law or the company’s constitution expressly requires the matter to be approved by a special resolution or other specified percentage or number of members.

156. Written resolutions in lieu of meetings

(a)A company with only one director need not have directors’ meetings and may instead pass any necessary resolutions by recording them in writing and signing them.

(b)A company with only one member need not have members’ meetings and may instead pass any necessary resolutions by recording them in writing and signing them.

(c)Any company may pass a directors resolution without a directors’ meeting being held if all the directors’ entitled to vote on the resolution sign a document containing a statement that they are in favour of the resolution set out in the document. Separate copies of the document in the same form may be signed and the resolution is passed when the last director signs.

(d)Any private company may pass a members’ resolution without a general meeting being held if all the members entitled to vote on the resolution sign a document containing a statement that they are in favour of the resolution set out in the document. Separate copies of the document in the same form may be signed and the resolution is passed when the last member signs.

(e)A company that passes a resolution under sub-section (d) is taken to satisfy any requirement of its constitution or this Law that a resolution be passed at a general meeting and further satisfies any requirement under this Law:

(i)to give members information or a document relating to the resolution—by giving members that information or document with the document to be signed;

(ii)to lodge with the Registrar a copy of a notice of meeting to consider the resolution—by lodging a copy of the document to be signed by members; and

(iii)to lodge a copy of a document that accompanies a notice of meeting to consider the resolution—by lodging a copy of the information or documents referred to in sub-section 156(e)(i).

157. Minutes of proceedings of general meetings and of its directors and of written resolutions

(a)Every company shall cause minutes of all proceedings of general meetings and of its directors and of any written resolutions that are passed to be entered in books kept for that purpose. The relevant minutes or resolutions must be recorded in this books within 21 days of the holding of the meeting or passing of the written resolution and must be signed by the chairman or other authorised director.

(b)Any such minute or written resolution, if purporting to be signed by the chair of the meeting at which the proceedings were had, or by the chair of the next succeeding meeting, shall be evidence of the proceedings or passing of the resolution.

(c)Until the contrary is proved, every general meeting of the company or meeting of directors in respect of the proceedings whereof minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly called and held, and all proceedings had thereat to have been duly had, and all appointments of directors or liquidators shall be deemed to be valid.

(d)The books containing the minutes of proceedings of any general meeting of a company and any written resolution of members, shall be kept at the registered office of the company or other place where the register of the company is kept in accordance with this Law and shall during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may by its constitution or in general meeting impose) be open to the inspection of any member without charge.

(e)Any member shall at any time after 7 days from the meeting be entitled to be furnished within 7 days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company with a copy of any minutes or resolutions referred to in sub-section (d) at a reasonable sum specified by the directors.

158.If any inspection required under sub-section 157(d) is refused, or if any copy required under sub-section 157(e) of this section is not furnished within the time specified in sub-section 157(e), the company and every director or other officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully in default shall be liable in respect of each offence to a fine of 150,000 kyats.

159. In the case of any refusal or default specified in section 158, the Court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the books in respect of all proceedings of general meetings or written resolutions passed or direct that the copies required shall be sent to the persons requiring them.

Division 18: Directors and their powers and duties

Powers of directors

160. Powers of directors

(a)The business of a company is to be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors or, in the case of a single director company, the single director.

(b)In managing the business of the company the directors (or single director) may exercise all the powers of the company, subject to any powers which are required to be exercised by members as expressly set out in this Law or the company’s constitution.

(c)Subject to the company’s constitution, the board may confer on a managing director any of the powers that the directors can exercise.

(d)Subject to the company’s constitution, the board may delegate any of its powers to:

(i) a committee of directors;

(ii)a director;

(iii)an employee of the company; or

(iv)any other person.

(e)A delegate of powers under sub-section (d) must exercise such powers in accordance with any directions given by the board and the exercise of powers by the delegate is as effective as if the directors had exercised them.

(f)If the directors delegate a power under sub-section (d), a director is responsible for the exercise of the power by the delegate as if the power had been exercised by the directors themselves unless the director can show they believed:

(i)on reasonable grounds at all times that the delegate would exercise the power in conformity with the duties imposed on directors of the company by this Law and the company’s constitution; and

(ii)on reasonable grounds, in good faith and after making proper inquiry (if the circumstances indicated the need for inquiry) that the delegate was reliable and competent in relation to the power delegated.

161. Directors’ access to information

(a)A director may inspect the books and records of the company at all reasonable times.

(b)A person who has ceased to be a director may, at all reasonable times during the period of seven years after ceasing to be a director, inspect and take copies of the books and records of the company for the purposes of a legal proceeding:

(i) to which the person is party;

(ii)that the person proposes in good faith to bring; or

(iii)that the person has reason to believe will be brought against them.

162. Restrictions on powers of directors

The directors of a public company, or of a subsidiary of a public company, or, if so provided in its constitution of a private company shall not, except with the consent of the company concerned in general meeting:

(a)sell or dispose of the main undertaking of the company; or

(b)remit any debt due by a director.

163. Restrictions on voting

(a)Subject to the company’s constitution and this section, if a director of a company has a material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the company that is being considered at a board meeting, the director must not be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting or vote on the matter.

(b)Subject to the company’s constitution, a director may be present at a board meeting at which a matter in which the director has a material personal interest is being considered and vote on a matter if:

(i) under section 172 the director has disclosed the nature and extent of the interest and its relation to the affairs of the company and the other directors pass a resolution that identifies the director and the nature of the interest and states that those directors are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the director from being present at the meeting or voting;

(ii)a resolution to the same effect as the board resolution referred to in sub-section 163(b)(i) is passed at a general meeting; or

(iii)the interest is one that does not need to be disclosed under section 172.

(c)Subject to the company’s constitution, if the requirements of sub-section (b) are satisfied:

(i)the director may vote on matters that relate to the interest;

(ii)any transactions that relate to the interest may proceed;

(iii)the director may retain benefits under the transaction even though the director has the interest; and

(iv)the company cannot avoid the transaction merely because of the existence of the interest.

Duties of directors and officers

164. Duties

Sections 165 to 172 (inclusive) below contain the main duties imposed on directors and officers but do not limit duties imposed elsewhere under this Law or any other applicable law.

165. Duty to act with care and diligence

(a)A director or officer must exercise their powers and discharge their duties with the degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if they:

(i)were a director or officer of the company in the company’s circumstances; or

(ii)occupied the office held by, and had the same responsibilities within the company as, the director or officer.

(b)A director or other officer who, in the exercise of their powers and discharge of their duties, makes a decision to take, or not take, an action in relation to the operation of the company’s business, is taken to meet the requirements of sub-section (a), and any like legal or equitable duties, and the duty in section 170, if they:

(i)make the decision in good faith for a proper purpose;

(ii)do not have a material personal interest in the subject matter of the decision;

(iii)inform themselves about the subject matter of the decision to the extent they reasonably believe to be appropriate; and

(iv)rationally believe that the decision is in the best interests of the company.

166. Duty to act in good faith in the company’s best interest

(a)Subject to this section, a director or officer must exercise their powers and discharge their duties:

(i)in good faith and in the best interest of the company; and

(ii)for a proper purpose.

(b)A director or officer of a company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary may, when exercising powers or performing duties as a director or officer, if expressly permitted to do so by the constitution of the company, act in a manner which he or she believes is in the best interests of that company’s holding company even though it may not be in the best interests of the company.

(c)A director or officer of a company that is a subsidiary (but not a wholly-owned subsidiary) may, when exercising powers or performing duties as a director or officer, if expressly permitted to do so by the constitution of the company and with the prior agreement of the members (other than its holding company), act in a manner which he or she believes is in the best interests of that company’s holding company even though it may not be in the best interests of the company.

(d)A director or officer of a company that is carrying out a joint venture between the shareholders may, when exercising powers or performing duties as a director in connection with the carrying out of the joint venture, if expressly permitted to do so by the constitution of the company, act in a manner which he or she believes is in the best interests of a shareholder or shareholders, even though it may not be in the best interests of the company.

(e)In connection with the obligation under sub-section (a)(i), when exercising their powers and discharging their duties a director or officer may have regard to:

(i)the likely long-term consequences of the decision, including its impact on the:

(A)company’s employees;

(B)company’s business relationships with customers and suppliers;

(C)environment; and

(D)company’s reputation; and

(ii)the need to act fairly as between members of the company.

167. Duty regarding use of position

A director or officer must not improperly use their position to:

(a)gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; or

(b)cause detriment to the company.

168.Duty regarding use of information

A director or officer must not improperly use information obtained by them as a director or officer to:

(a)gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; or

(b)cause detriment to the company.

169.Duty to comply with the Law and constitution

A director or officer must not act, or agree to the company acting, in a manner that contravenes this Law or the company’s constitution.

170. Duty to avoid reckless trading

A director or officer must not cause or allow the business of the company to be carried on, or agree to the business being carried on, in a manner likely to create a substantial risk of serious loss to the company’s creditors.

171. Duty in relation to obligations

A director or officer must not agree to a company incurring an obligation unless that director or officer believes at the time on reasonable grounds that the company will be able to perform the obligation when required to do so.

172. Duty to disclose certain interests

(a)A director of a company who has a material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the company must give the other directors notice of the interest unless:

(i) the interest:

(A)arises because the director is a member of the company and is held in common with the other members of the company;

(B)arises in relation to the director’s remuneration as a director of the company;

(C)relates to a contract the company is proposing to enter into that is subject to approval by the members and will not impose any obligation on the company if it is not approved by the members;

(D)arises merely because the director is a guarantor or has given an indemnity or security for all or part of a loan (or proposed loan) to the company;

(E)arises merely because the director has a right of subrogation in relation to a guarantee or indemnity referred to in sub-paragraph (D);

(F)relates to a contract that insures, or would insure, the director against liabilities the director incurs as an officer of the company (but only if the contract does not make the company or a related body corporate the insurer);

(G)relates to any payment by the company or a related body corporate in respect of an indemnity permitted under section 181 or any contract relating to such an indemnity; or

(H)is in a contract, or proposed contract, with, or for the benefit of, or on behalf of, a related body corporate and arises merely because the director is a director of the related body corporate;

(ii)the director has already given notice of the nature and extent of the interest and its relation to the affairs of the company in accordance with this section and the notice remains valid; or

(iii)the company only has one director and that director, and any related parties of the director, are the only shareholders of the company. If the sole director company has additional shareholders, then a notice required to be given under sub-section (a) must be given to those shareholders.

(b)Notice of an interest may be given from time to time as required or the director of a company who has an interest in a matter may give the other directors standing notice of the nature and extent of the interest.

(c)The standing notice may be given at any time and whether or not the matter relates to the affairs of the company at the time the notice is given, provided that if a new director is appointed to the board any standing notices that have been previously given must be refreshed at a new meeting of the board.

(d)A standing notice will also cease to be valid if the nature or extent of the interest materially increases above that disclosed in the notice.

(e)Any notice given under this section must:

(i) give details of the nature and extent of the interest; and

(ii)be given at a board meeting and recorded in the minutes.

(f)A contravention of this section by a director does not affect the validity of any act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution or other thing.

(g)This section applies in addition to any other general law regarding conflicts of interest and to anything in the company’s constitution.

Appointment, remuneration and cessation of appointment of directors

173. Appointment of directors

(a)In default of and subject to any regulations in the constitution of a company:

(i)the initial directors of a company will be the persons named in the application for incorporation made under Part II of this Law;

(ii)thereafter, the directors of the company shall be appointed by the members passing an ordinary resolution in a general meeting; and

(iii)any casual vacancy occurring among the directors may be filled up by the directors, even if those directors would not at the time constitute a quorum, but the person so appointed shall be subject to approval of members at the next general meeting of the company held after their appointment, which must be called within six months of the appointment.

(b)In the case of public companies, subject to the constitution of the company or any other applicable law, at each annual general meeting one third of the directors for the time being, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one third shall retire from office. The directors to retire in any such meeting will be those who have been longest in office since the last election, but as between persons who became directors on the same day those to retire shall be determined by the chairman.

(c)A resolution at a general meeting to appoint a director may only refer to one proposed director, however separate resolutions to appoint additional directors may be made at the same meeting.

(d)The directors may appoint one or more of themselves to the office of managing director of the company for the period and on the terms as the directors see fit. A person ceases to be a managing director if the cease to be a director.

(e)With the approval of the other directors, a director may appoint an alternate to exercise some or all of the directors’ powers for a specified period and when such alternate exercises the directors’ powers the exercise is just as effective as if done by the director. The appointment must be made in writing and given to the company. The appointment may be revoked by the appointing director at any time.

(f)The director of a private company who is the only director and only shareholder of the company may appoint another director by written resolution.

(g)If a person who is a sole director and only shareholder of a company dies or becomes subject to an incapacity, the person’s personal representative or trustee may appoint a person as director of the company.

(h)If there are no directors of a company or the number of directors is less than the quorum required for a board meeting and it is not possible or practicable to appoint directors in

accordance with this Law or the company’s constitution then a shareholder or the Registrar may apply to the Court to appoint one or more directors to the company. The Court may make the appointment if it considers it is in the company’s best interest to do so and any appointment may be made on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks fit.

174. Removal of directors

A company may by ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting called for this purpose or by written resolution passed in accordance with this Law remove any director.

175. Qualification of director

(a)It shall be the duty of every director who is by the company’s constitution required to hold a specified share qualification, and who is not already qualified, to obtain his qualification within two months after the director’s appointment, or such shorter time as may be fixed by the constitution.

(b)Only a natural person who is at least 18 may be appointed as a director.

(c)A director must be of sound mind.

(d)A person who has been disqualified from acting as a director under this Law or any other applicable law must not act as a director during the period of their disqualification.

(e)A person who is an undischarged bankrupt must not act as a director.

(f)This section is without prejudice to any additional qualifications which a company may include in its constitution (however no constitutional qualification will be valid to the extent it is inconsistent with any of the qualifications required under this section).

(g)A person acting as a director may still be found liable for a breach of obligation or duty of a director under this Law or any other applicable law notwithstanding that any of the qualifications to them being appointed as a director have not been met.

(h)The Registrar may issue notifications regarding the qualifications, rights and duties of independent directors.

176. Validity of acts of directors

The acts of a director shall be valid notwithstanding any defect that may afterwards be discovered in his appointment or their failure to meet any applicable qualification for appointment whether under this Law or the company’s constitution: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to validate any acts which would have been invalid even if the person’s appointment as a director had been effective.

177. Assignment of office by directors

If in the case of any company provision is made in the constitution or by any agreement entered into between any person and the company for empowering a director or officer of the company to assign his office as such to another person, any assignment of office made in pursuance of the said provision shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the said provision, be of no effect unless and until it is approved by a special resolution of the company:

Provided that the exercise by a director of a power to appoint an alternate director to act for him during periods of unavailability shall not be deemed to be an assignment of office within the meaning of this section:

Provided always that any such alternate director shall not exercise any powers as a director if and when the appointor is available.

178. Vacation of office of director

(a)The office of a director shall be vacated if the director-

(i)fails to obtain within the time specified in sub-section 175(a), or at any time thereafter ceases to hold, the share qualification, if any, necessary for the director’s appointment;

(ii)is found to be of unsound mind by a Court of competent jurisdiction; or

(iii)is adjudged bankrupt or an insolvent;

(iv)fails to pay calls made on the director in respect of shares held by the director within six months from the date of such calls being made;

(v)absents themselves from three consecutive meetings of the directors or from all meetings of the directors for a continuous period of three months, whichever is the longer, without leave of absence from the board of directors or without appointing an alternate;

(vi)resigns from their position as director by giving written notice to the company;

(vii)dies;

(viii)is removed from office in accordance with this law or the constitution of the company; or

(ix)ceases to hold or meet any of the qualifications required for the position of director set out in this Law or the constitution of the company.

(b)Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to preclude a company from providing by its constitution that the office of director shall be vacated on grounds additional to those specified in this section.

179.Company Secretaries

(a)A secretary may be appointed by a resolution of the directors.

(b)Only a natural person who is at least 18 may be appointed as a secretary.

(c)A secretary must be of sound mind.

(d)A person who has been disqualified from acting as a director, officer or secretary under this Law or any other applicable law may not act as a secretary during the period of their disqualification.

(e)This section is without prejudice to any additional qualifications required to be held by a secretary which a company may include in its constitution (however no constitutional

qualification will be valid to the extent it is inconsistent with any of the qualifications required under this section).

(f)The acts of a secretary shall be valid notwithstanding any defect that may afterwards be discovered in their appointment or their failure to meet any applicable qualification for appointment whether under this Law or the company’s constitution: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to validate any acts which would have been invalid even if the person’s appointment as a secretary had been effective.

Restrictions on indemnities, insurance, relief from liability and provision for unlimited liability

180.Avoidance of provisions exempting liability of directors, officers and auditors

Save as provided in this Division, any provision, whether contained in the constitution of a company or in any contract with a company or otherwise, for exempting any director or officer of the company, or any person (whether an officer of the company or not) employed by the company as auditor, from any liability to the company which by virtue of this Law or any other applicable rule of law would otherwise attach to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the company shall be void.

181. Indemnities

(a)Subject to this section, a company or a related body corporate must not, directly or indirectly, indemnify a person against any of the following liabilities incurred as a director, officer or auditor of the company:

(i) a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate; or

(ii)a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate and did not arise out of conduct in good faith.

(b)Sub-section (a) does not prohibit a company or a related body corporate from indemnifying a person for a liability against legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as a director, officer or auditor of the company unless the costs are incurred:

(i)in defending or resisting proceedings in which the person is found to have a liability for which they could not be indemnified under sub-section (a);

(ii)in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the person is found guilty;

(iii)in defending or resisting proceedings brought by the Registrar or a liquidator for a Court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the Court to have been established; or

(iv)in connection with proceedings for relief to the person under this Law in which the Court denies the relief.

(c)For the purposes of sub-section (b), the outcome of proceedings is the outcome of the proceedings and any appeal in relation to the proceedings.

182. Insurance

(a)A company or a related body corporate must not pay, or agree to pay, directly or indirectly, a premium for a contract insuring a person who is or has been a director, officer or auditor of the company against a liability (other than one for legal costs) arising out of:

(i)conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the company; or

(ii)a contravention of section 167 or 168.

(b)Subject to any other applicable law, sub-section (a) does not prohibit a company or a related body corporate from paying, or agreeing to pay, directly or indirectly, a premium for a contract insuring a person who is or has been a director, officer or auditor of the company against a liability other than a liability referred to in sub-sections (a)(i) or (a)(ii).

183.Limited company may have directors with unlimited liability

Without limiting any other provision of this Law or other applicable law, in a limited company which is incorporated prior to the commencement of this Law, the liability of the directors or of any director appointed prior to the commencement of the Law may, if so provided by the constitution of the company, be unlimited.

Provision of benefits to and transactions with directors, officers and other related parties

184. Provision of retirement benefits

(a)Subject to this section, a company must not give a person a benefit in connection with a person’s retirement as an officer of the company or a related body corporate unless there is member approval under section 186 for the giving of the benefit.

(b)Sub-section (a) does not restrict the payment of any benefits required to be paid by law or paid in good faith under or in connection with the officer’s contract of employment or similar engagement with the company.

185. Provision of benefits on transfer of undertaking or property

A company must not give an officer or former officer of the company or any related body corporate, or any spouse, relative or associate of the officer or former officer, a benefit in connection with the transfer of the whole or any part of the undertaking or property of the company or any related body corporate unless there is member approval under section 186 for the giving of the benefit.

186.Approval of benefits by members

(a)A benefit of the kind referred to in section 184 or 185 may be given if it is approved at a general meeting of members of the company, its ultimate holding company (if any) and any other relevant related body corporate.

(b)A notice of meeting prepared for any meeting held under sub-section (a) must provide details of the relevant benefit and all other material information relevant to the decision on how to vote on it.

(c)The officer or former officer referred to in section 184 or 185 or any person who would receive the benefit may not vote on any resolution concerning the giving of the benefit (unless pursuant to a proxy from another person which directs them how to vote).

187. Remuneration of directors and other benefits to directors and related parties

(a)The board of a company may, subject to any restrictions contained in the constitution of the company, applicable provisions of this Law and any other applicable law, authorise:

(i)the payment of remuneration or the provision of other benefits by the company to a director or a director’s related party for services as a director or in any other capacity;

(ii)the payment by the company to a director or former director of compensation for loss of office;

(iii)the making of loans by the company to a director or a related party;

(iv)the giving of guarantees by the company for debts incurred by a director or a related party;

(v)the entering into of a contract to do any of the things set out in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) or to the provision of any other kind of financial benefit to a director or a related party not otherwise regulated under this Law; and

(vi)if the board is satisfied that:

(A)to do so is in the best interest of the company;

(B)to do so is reasonable in the circumstances; and

(C)the payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract is on made on arm’s length terms from the perspective of the company.

(b)The board must ensure that forthwith after authorising the making of the payment or the provision of the benefit or the making of the loan or the giving of the guarantee or the entering into of the contract, as the case may be, particulars of the payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract are entered in the register of interests maintained by the company under section 189.

(c)The payment of remuneration or the giving of any other benefit to a director or related party in accordance with a contract authorised under sub-section (a) need not be separately authorised under that sub-section.

(d)Directors who vote in favour of authorising a payment, benefit, loan, guarantee, or contract under sub-section (a) must sign a certificate stating that, in their opinion, the making of the payment or the provision of the benefit, or the making of the loan, or the giving of the guarantee, or the entering into of the contract is in the best interest of the company, is reasonable in the circumstances, and is on terms that are no worse than arm’s length from the perspective of the company, and the grounds for that opinion.

(e)Where a payment is made or other benefit provided or a guarantee is given to which sub-section (a) applies and either:

(i)the provisions of sub-sections (a) and (d) have not been complied with; or

(ii)reasonable grounds did not exist for the opinion set out in the certificate given under sub-section (d),

the director or former director or related party to whom the payment is made or the benefit is provided, or in respect of whom the guarantee is given, as the case may be, is personally liable to the company for the amount of the payment, or the monetary value of the benefit, or any amount paid by the company under the guarantee, except to the extent to which he or she proves that the payment or benefit or guarantee was fair to the company at the time it was made, provided, or given.

(f)Where a loan is made to which sub-section (a) applies and either:

(i)the provisions of sub-sections (a) and (d) have not been complied with; or

(ii)reasonable grounds did not exist for the opinion set out in the certificate given under sub-section (d),

the loan becomes immediately repayable to the company by the director or related party, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement relating to the giving of the loan, except to the extent to which he or she proves that the loan was fair to the company at the time it was given.

(g)The directors must ensure that particulars of the payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract are disclosed to members at the next annual general meeting of the company.

188.Member approval of remuneration of directors and other benefits to directors and related parties

(a)The board of a company may, subject to any restrictions contained in the constitution of the company, applicable provisions of this Law and any other applicable law, authorise a payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract of the kind referred to in sub-section 187(a) to a director or other related party of the company if it is approved by members under this section.

(b)Before the notice convening the relevant meeting is given, the company must file with the Registrar:

(i) a proposed notice of meeting setting out the proposed resolution;

(ii)a proposed explanatory statement setting out all information known to the company that is material to the decision on how to vote on the resolution, including details of the director or related party receiving the payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract and details of such the payment or benefit or loan or guarantee or contract; and

(iii)any other document that is proposed to accompany the notice convening the meeting and that relates to the proposed resolution.

(c)The Registrar will have 28 days to determine whether the company may release of the notice of meeting to members. If the Registrar determines that the notice may be sent, or a determination is not issued within this period, then the company may send the notice of meeting.

(d)In making a determination under sub-section (c) the Registrar may direct the company to clarify or vary any document submitted under sub-section (b) where this is considered reasonably necessary for the protection of members.

(e)The Registrar may determine that the release of the notice of meeting must not occur if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the requirements of sub-section 188(b)(ii) have not been met or for similarly significant cause.

(f)The director or relevant related party must not vote on the resolution at the general meeting (unless pursuant to a proxy from another person which directs them how to vote).

(g)The company must lodge with the Registrar a copy of any resolution under sub-section (a) within 14 days after it is passed.

Information about directors and others

189. Register of directors and secretaries

(a)Every company shall keep at its registered office or such other place where its register is kept a register of its of directors, any alternate directors and secretaries, containing with respect to each of them the following particulars:

(i)the director, alternate director or secretary’s present name in full, any former name in full, the individual’s date of birth, the individual’s usual residential address, the individual’s nationality and any other nationality held by the individual (if any) and, the individual’s occupation, if any, and if the individual’s holds any other directorship or directorships the particulars of such directorship or directorships;

(ii)any interests declared by a director under section 172; and

(iii)any benefits provided to a director under section 187.

(b)Each director, alternate director and secretary, must provide the company with the particulars required to be entered on the register maintained under sub-section (a).

(c)The company shall as part of its obligation to file an annual return under section 97 send the Registrar a return in the prescribed form containing the particulars specified in the said register. The company shall also file with the Registrar a notice in the prescribed form of any change among its directors, alternate directors or secretaries, or in any of the particulars contained in the register within 28 days of the date of the change.

(d)The register to be kept under this section shall during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may by its constitution or in general meeting impose, so that not less than two hours in each day be allowed for inspection) be open to the inspection of any member of the company without charge and of any other person on payment of a reasonable sum determined by the company for each inspection.

(e)If any inspection required under this section is refused, the Court, on application made by the person to whom inspection has been refused and upon notice to the company, may by order direct an immediate inspection of the register.

Breaches of this Division

190.Consequences of breach of any requirement of this Division

(a)If default is made in complying with the provisions of any section of this Division, every director and any other person subject to the applicable provision who is a party to the default shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

(b)Without limiting sub-section (a), every director and any other person subject to the applicable provision of this Division who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default may also be:

(i)subject to such additional fine or penalty as the Court may determine if the default has involved dishonesty on the part of the director or other person subject to the applicable provision; and

(ii)on the application of the Registrar, disqualified from acting as a director or other officer of a company for such period as may be determined by the Court.

(c)This section does not limit any other liabilities of the director, any other person subject to the applicable provision of this Division or the company, or any actions which might be brought against them by any person, under this Law or any other applicable law, including under sections 193 and 200 below.

191. Reliance on information or advice

(a)If the reasonableness of a director’s or officer’s reliance on information or professional or expert advice arises in proceedings brought to determine whether a director has breached a duty under this Division or an equivalent general law duty, the director’s or officer’s reliance on the information or advice is taken to be reasonable if:

(i) the information or advice was given or prepared by:

(A)an employee of the company whom the director believes on reasonable grounds to be reliable and competent in relation to the matters concerned;

(B)a professional adviser or expert in relation to matters that the director believes on reasonable grounds to be within the person’s professional or expert competence;

(C)another director or officer in relation to matters within the director’s or officer’s authority; or

(D)a committee of directors on which the director did not serve in relation to matters within the committee’s authority; and

(ii)the reliance was made in good faith and after making an independent assessment of the information or advice, having regard to the director’s knowledge of the company and the complexity of the structure and operations of the company.

(b)The presumption in sub-section (a) is rebuttable and may be disproved by the person bringing the proceedings.

Division 19: Members rights and remedies

Actions by members and others in cases of oppression

192. Oppressive conduct of affairs

(a)The Court may make an order under section 193 if the conduct of a company’s affairs, an actual or proposed act or omission by or on behalf of a company, or a resolution, or a proposed resolution, of members or a class of members of a company is either:

(i) contrary to the interests of the members as a whole; or

(ii)oppressive to, unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly discriminatory against, a member or members whether in that capacity or in any other capacity.

(b)For the purposes of this Division, a person to whom a share in the company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law is taken to be a member of the company.

193. Orders the Court can make

(a)The Court can make any order under this section that it considers appropriate in relation to the company, including an order:

(i) that the company be wound up;

(ii)that the company’s existing constitution be modified or repealed;

(iii)regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future;

(iv)for the purchase of any shares by any member or person to whom a share in the company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law;

(v)for the purchase of shares with an appropriate reduction of the company’s share capital;

(vi)for the company to institute, prosecute, defend or discontinue specified proceedings;

(vii)authorising a member, or a person to whom a share in the company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law, to institute, prosecute, defend or discontinue specified proceedings in the name and on behalf of the company;

(viii)appointing a receiver of any or all of the company’s property;

(ix)restraining a person from engaging in specified conduct or from doing a specified act;

(x)requiring a person to do a specified act; or

(xi)for damages.

(b)If an order that a company be wound up is made under this section, the provisions of this Law and other applicable laws relating to the winding up of companies shall apply.

(c)If an order made under this section repeals or modifies a company’s constitution the company does not have the power under section 17 to change or repeal the constitution if

that change or repeal would be inconsistent with the provisions of the order, unless permitted by the order or the company first obtains the leave of the Court.

194. Who can apply for an order

An application for an order under section 193 in relation to a company may be made by:

(a)a member of the company, even if the application relates to an act or omission that is against:

(i) the member in a capacity other than as a member; or

(ii)another member in their capacity as a member;

(b)a person who has been removed from the register of members because of a selective reduction;

(c)a person who has ceased to be a member of the company if the application relates to the circumstances in which they ceased to be a member;

(d)a person to whom a share in the company has been transmitted by will or by operation of law; or

(e)a person whom the Registrar thinks appropriate having regard to investigations it is conducting or has conducted into:

(i) the company’s affairs; or

(ii)matters connected with the company’s affairs.

195. Requirement to lodge order with the Registrar

If an order is made under section 193, the applicant must lodge a copy of the order with the Registrar within 21 days after it is made.

Derivative actions

196.Bringing, or intervening in, proceedings on behalf of a company

(a)A person may bring proceedings on behalf of a company, or intervene in any proceedings to which the company is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the company for those proceedings, or for a particular step in those proceedings (for example, compromising or settling them), if the person is:

(i)a member, former member, or person entitled to be registered as a member, of the company or of a related body corporate; or

(ii)a director, former director, officer or former officer of the company; and

(iii)acting with leave granted under section 197.

(b)Proceedings brought on behalf of a company must be brought in the company’s name.

(c)The right of a person at general law to bring, or intervene in, proceedings on behalf of a company is abolished.

197. Applying for and granting leave

(a)A person referred to in section 196(a)(i) may apply to the Court for leave to bring, or to intervene in, proceedings.

(b)The Court must grant the application if it is satisfied that:

(i)it is probable that the company will not itself bring the proceedings, or properly take responsibility for them, or for the steps in them;

(ii)the applicant is acting in good faith;

(iii)it is in the best interests of the company that the applicant be granted leave;

(iv)if the applicant is applying for leave to bring proceedings—there is a serious question to be tried; and

(v)either:

(A)at least 14 days before making the application, the applicant gave written notice to the company of the intention to apply for leave and of the reasons for applying; or

(B)it is appropriate to grant leave even though sub-paragraph (A) is not satisfied.

(c)A rebuttable presumption that granting leave is not in the best interests of the company arises if it is established that:

(i) the proceedings are:

(A)by the company against a third party; or

(B)by a third party against the company; and

(ii)the company has decided:

(A)not to bring the proceedings;

(B)not to defend the proceedings; or

(C)to discontinue, settle or compromise the proceedings; and

(iii)all of the directors who participated in that decision:

(A)acted in good faith for a proper purpose;

(B)did not have a material personal interest in the decision;

(C)informed themselves about the subject matter of the decision to the extent they reasonably believed to be appropriate; and

(D)rationally believed that the decision was in the best interests of the company.

(d)The director’s belief that the decision was in the best interests of the company is a rational one unless the belief is one that a reasonable person in their position would not hold.

(e)For the purposes of sub-section (c):

(i)a person is a third party if the person is not a related party of the company; and

(ii)proceedings by or against the company include any appeal from a decision made in proceedings by or against the company.

198. Substitution of another person for the person granted leave

(a)Any of the following persons may apply to the Court for an order that they be substituted for a person to whom leave has been granted under section 197:

(i)a member, former member, or a person entitled to be registered as a member, of the company or of a related body corporate; or

(ii)a director, former director, officer, or former officer, of the company.

(b)The Court may make the order if it is satisfied that:

(i) the applicant is acting in good faith; and

(ii)it is appropriate to make the order in all the circumstances.

(c)An order substituting one person for another has the effect that:

(i) the grant of leave is taken to have been made in favour of the substituted person; and

(ii)if the other person has already brought the proceedings or intervened—the substituted person is taken to have brought those proceedings or to have made that intervention.

199. Effect of ratification by members

(a)If the members of a company ratify or approve conduct, the ratification or approval:

(i)does not prevent a person from bringing or intervening in proceedings with leave under section 197, or from applying for leave under that section; and

(ii)does not have the effect that proceedings brought or intervened in with leave under section 197 must be determined in favour of the defendant, or that an application for leave under that section must be refused.

(b)If members of a company ratify or approve conduct, the Court may take the ratification or approval into account in deciding what order or judgment (including as to damages) to make in proceedings brought or intervened in with leave under section 197 or in relation to an application for leave under that section. In doing this, it must have regard to:

(i)how well informed about the conduct the members were when deciding whether to ratify or approve the conduct; and

(ii)whether the members who ratified or approved the conduct were acting for proper purposes.

200. General powers of the Court

(a)The Court may make orders, and give directions, that it considers appropriate in relation to proceedings brought or intervened in with leave, or an application for leave, including:

(i) interim orders;

(ii)directions about the conduct of the proceedings, including requiring mediation;

(iii)an order directing the company, or an officer of the company, to do, or not to do, any act; and

(iv)an order appointing an independent person to investigate, and report to the Court on:

(A)the financial affairs of the company;

(B)the facts or circumstances which gave rise to the cause of action the subject of the proceedings; or

(C)the costs incurred in the proceedings by the parties to the proceedings and the person granted leave.

(b)A person appointed by the Court under sub-section (a)(iv) is entitled, on giving reasonable notice to the company, to inspect any books of the company for any purpose connected with their appointment.

(c)If the Court appoints a person under sub-section (a)(iv):

(i)the Court must also make an order stating who is liable for the remuneration and expenses of the person appointed;

(ii)the Court may vary the order at any time;

(iii)the persons who may be made liable under the order, or the order as varied, are:

(A)all or any of the parties to the proceedings or application; and

(B)the company; and

(iv)if the order, or the order as varied, makes 2 or more persons liable, the order may also determine the nature and extent of the liability of each of those persons.

(d)Sub-section (c) does not affect the powers of the Court as to costs.

201. Power of the Court to make costs orders

(a)The Court may at any time make any orders it considers appropriate about the costs of the following persons in relation to proceedings brought or intervened in with leave under section 197 or an application for leave under that section:

(i) the person who applied for or was granted leave;

(ii)the company; and

(iii)any other party to the proceedings or application.

(b)An order under this section may require indemnification for costs.

Division 20: Matters relating to share offers by public companies

Prospectus

202. Application of this Division

(a)Save for sub-section (b), this Division applies in respect of public companies and any proposed offer of their shares or other securities to the public. It applies without limitation to any other provision of this Law or other applicable law, and it may apply subject to such applicable laws.

(b)A company, other than a public company, must not offer its shares or other securities to the public or allot or agree to allot any securities of the company with a view to their being offered to the public.

203. Filing of prospectus

(a)Every prospectus issued by or on behalf of a company or in relation to any intended company shall be dated, and that date shall, unless the contrary be proved, be taken as the date of publication of the prospectus.

(b)A copy of every such prospectus, signed by every person who is named therein as a director or proposed director of the company, or by his agent authorized in writing, shall be filed for registration with the Registrar on or before the date of its publication, and no such prospectus shall be issued until a copy thereof has been so filed for registration.

(c)The Registrar shall not register any prospectus unless it is dated and the copy thereof signed, in manner required by this section.

(d)Every prospectus shall state on the face of it that a copy has been filed for registration as required by this section.

204.If a prospectus is issued without a copy thereof being so filed in accordance with section 203, the company, and every person who is knowingly a party to the issue of the prospectus, shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

205. Specific requirements as to particulars of prospectus

(a)Every prospectus issued by or on behalf of a company, or by or on behalf of any person who is or has been engaged or interested in the formation of the company, shall state:

(i)the contents of the constitution, with the names, descriptions, nationalities, and addresses of the initial shareholders and the number of shares subscribed for by them respectively; and the number of founders or management or deferred shares (if any) and the nature and extent of the interest of the holders in the property and profits of the company, and the number of redeemable preference shares intended to be issued with the date or, where no date is fixed, the period of notice required and the proposed method of redemption;

(ii)the number of shares fixed by the constitution as the qualification of a director, if any, and any provision in the constitution as to the remuneration of the directors;

(iii)the names, descriptions, nationalities and addresses of the directors or proposed directors and of the officers or proposed officers, and any provision in the constitution or in any contract as to the appointment of officers and the remuneration payable to them;

(iv)the minimum subscription on which the directors may proceed to allotment, and the amount payable on application and allotment on each share; and in the case of a second or subsequent offer of shares the number of shares and amount offered for subscription on each previous allotment made within the two preceding years, and the number of shares actually allotted, and the amount paid on the shares so allotted;

(v)the number and amount of shares and debentures and other securities which within the two preceding years have been issued, or agreed to be issued, as fully or partly paid up in cash or otherwise, and in the latter case the extent to which they are so paid up, and in either case the consideration for which those shares or debentures or other securities have been issued or agreed to be issued;

(vi)where any issue of shares or debentures or other securities is underwritten, the names of the underwriters, and the opinion of the directors that the resources of the underwriters are sufficient to discharge the underwriting obligations;

(vii)the names and addresses of the vendors of any property purchased or acquired by the company, or proposed so to be purchased or acquired, which is to be paid for wholly or partly out of the proceeds of the issue offered for subscription by the prospectus, and the amount payable in cash, shares or debentures or other securities to the vendor, and, where there is more than one separate vendor or the company is a sub-purchaser, the amount so payable to each vendor:

Provided that where the vendors or any of them are a firm, the members of the firm shall not be treated as separate vendors;

(viii)where any property referred to in clause (vii) has within the two years preceding the issue of the prospectus been transferred by sale, the amount paid by the purchaser at each such transfer and, where any such property is a business, the profits accruing from such business during each of the three years immediately preceding the issue of the prospectus, or during each year of the existence of the business if less than three years. A balance sheet of the business concerned made up to a date not more than 90 days before the date of the issue of the prospectus shall be appended to the prospectus;

(ix)the amount (if any) paid or payable as purchase-money, in cash, shares, debentures or other securities, for any such property as aforesaid, specifying the amount (if any) payable for goodwill;

(x)the amount (if any) paid within the two preceding years or payable as commission for subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, or procuring or agreeing to procure, subscriptions for any shares in, or debentures or other securities of, the company, or as discount in respect of shares issued, provided that it shall not be necessary to state the commission payable to sub-underwriters;

(xi)the amount or estimated amount of preliminary expenses;

(xii)the amount paid within the two preceding years or intended to be paid to any promoter, and the consideration for any such payment;

(xiii)the dates of, and parties to, every material contract including contracts relating to the acquisition of property to which clause (vii) applies, and a reasonable time and place at which any material contract or a copy thereof may be inspected, provided that this requirement shall not apply to a contract entered into in the ordinary course of the business carried on or intended to be carried on by the company, or to any contract entered into more than two years before the date of issue of the prospectus;

(xiv)the names and addresses of the auditors (if any) of the company;

(xv)full particulars of the nature and extent of the interest (if any) of every director in the promotion of, or in the property proposed to be acquired by, the company, or, where the interest of such a director consists in being a partner in a firm, the nature and extent of the interest of the firm, with a statement of all sums paid or agreed to be paid to him or to the firm, in cash or shares or otherwise, by any person either to induce him to become, or to qualify him as, a director, or otherwise for services rendered by him or by the firm in connection with the promotion or formation of the company;

(xvi)where the company has shares of more than one class, the right of voting at meetings of the company conferred by, and the rights in respect of capital and dividends attached to, the several classes of shares respectively; and

(xvii)where the constitution of the company imposes any restrictions upon the members of the company in respect of the right to attend, speak or vote at meetings of the company or of the right to transfer shares, or upon the directors of the company in respect of their powers of management, the nature and extent of those restrictions.

(b)Where the prospectus is issued by a company which has been carrying on business prior to the issue thereof, the prospectus shall set out the following reports in addition to the matters referred to in sub-section (a), namely:

(i)a report by the auditors of the company with respect to the profits of the company including its subsidiaries, if any, in each of the three financial years immediately preceding the issue of the prospectus and with respect to the rates of the dividends, if any, paid by the company on each class of shares in the company for each of the said three years, giving particulars of each such class of shares on which such dividends have been paid and the source from which the dividends have been paid and particulars of the cases in which no dividends have been paid on any class of shares for any of those years, and if no accounts have been made up for any part of a period of three years ending on a date three months before the issue of the prospectus, containing a statement of that fact; and

(ii)if the proceeds or any part of the proceeds of the issue of the shares or debentures or other securities are or is to be applied directly or indirectly in the purchase of any business, a report made by an accountant or accountants holding the certificate referred to in section 279, who shall be named in the prospectus, upon

the profits of the business in respect of each of the three financial years immediately preceding the issue of the prospectus:

Provided that if, in the case of a company which has been carrying on business for less than three years, the accounts of the company have been made up only in respect of two years or any shorter period, this sub-section shall have effect as if references to two years or such shorter period were substituted for references to three years.

(c)Subject to other applicable laws, the statement referred to in clause (viii) of sub-section (a) and the report referred to in sub-section (b) with respect to the profits of a company or business shall show clearly the trading results and all charges and expenses incidental thereto, excluding income or profits having no relation to the trading for the period covered and excluding also items of profit or income of a non-recurring nature, but including amounts appropriated from profits to such purposes as payment of taxation or reserves.

(d)Where any part of the sums required for the matters set out in sub-section 215(b) is to be provided out of sources other than share capital, particulars of the amount to be so provided and the sources thereof.

(e)Where any such prospectus mentioned in this section is published as a newspaper advertisement, it shall not be necessary in the advertisement to specify the contents of the constitution, or the initial shareholders, and the number of shares subscribed for by them.

(f)This section shall not apply to a circular or notice inviting existing members or debenture holders of a company to subscribe either for shares or for debentures or for other securities of the company, whether with or without the right to renounce in favour of other persons.

(g)The requirements of this section as to the amount or estimated amount of preliminary expenses, shall not apply in the case of a prospectus issued more than one year after the date at which the company is entitled to commence business:

Provided that the requirement as to the amount or estimated amount of preliminary expenses, shall apply to a prospectus filed in respect of a company which has been converted from a private company.

(h)Nothing in this section shall limit or diminish any liability which any person may incur under the general law or this Law apart from this section.

(i) For the purposes of section 205, vendor shall be every person who has entered into any contract for the sale or purchase, or for any option to purchase, of any property to be acquired by the company, in any case where:

(i)the purchase-money is not fully paid at the date of issue of the prospectus; or

(ii)the purchase-money is to be paid or satisfied wholly or in part out of the proceeds of the issue offered for subscription by the prospectus; or

(iii)the validity or fulfillment of the contract depends on the result of the issue offered for subscription by the prospectus.

206. Application of section 205 to the case of property taken on lease

Where any of the property to be acquired by the company is to be taken on lease, section 205 shall apply as if the expression “vendor” included the lessor, and the expression “purchase-money” included the consideration for the lease, and the expression “sub-purchaser” included a sub-lessee.

207. Invalidity of certain conditions as to waiver or notice

(a)Any condition requiring or binding any applicant for shares or debentures or other securities to waive compliance with any requirements of section 205, or purporting to affect him with notice of any contract, document or matter not specifically referred to in the prospectus, shall be void.

(b)It shall not be lawful to issue any form of application for the shares in or debentures or other securities of a company unless the form is issued with a prospectus which complies with the requirements of section 205:

Provided that this sub-section shall not apply if it is shown that the form of application was issued either:

(i)in connection with a bona fide invitation to a person to enter into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares or debentures; or

(ii)in relation to shares or debentures or other securities which were not offered to the public.

208.If any person acts in contravention of the provisions of sub-section 207(b), he shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

209. If a prospectus is issued which does not comply with the provisions of section 205, every person who is knowingly responsible for the issue of such prospectus shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

210.Non-compliance with section 205

(a)In the event of non-compliance with or contravention of any of the requirements of section 205, a director or other person responsible for the prospectus shall not incur any liability by reason of the noncompliance or contravention if the director or other person proves that:

(i)as regards any matter not disclosed, the director or other person was not cognisant thereof;

(ii)the non-compliance or contravention arose from an honest mistake of fact on the director’s or other person’s part; or

(iii)the non-compliance or contravention was in respect of matters which in the opinion of the Court were immaterial, or was otherwise such as ought in the opinion of the Court having regard to all the circumstances of the case, reasonably to be excused.

(b)Provided that, in the event of non-compliance with or contravention of the requirements contained in clause (xvi) of sub-section (a) of section 205, no such director or other

person shall incur any liability in respect of the non-compliance or contravention unless it is proved that the director or other person had knowledge of the matters not disclosed.

211.Obligations of companies where no prospectus is issued

(a)A company which does not issue a prospectus on or with reference to its formation shall not allot any of its shares or debentures or other securities unless before the first allotment of shares or debentures or other securities there has been filed with the Registrar a statement in lieu of prospectus, signed by every person who is named therein as a director or a proposed director of the company or by his agent authorized in writing, in the form and containing the particulars prescribed by the Union Minister for such purpose.

(b)This section applies without limitation to any other provision of this Law.

212.Document offering shares or debentures or other securities for sale to be deemed a prospectus

(a)Where a company to which this Division applies allots or agrees to allot any shares in or debentures or other securities of the company with a view to all or any of those shares or debentures or other securities being offered for sale to the public, any document by which the offer for sale to the public is made shall for all purposes be deemed to be a prospectus issued by the company, and all enactments and rules of law as to the contents of prospectuses and to liability in respect of statements in and omissions from prospectuses or otherwise relating to prospectuses shall apply and have effect accordingly as if the shares or debentures had been offered to the public for subscription and as if persons accepting the offer in respect of any shares or debentures were subscribers for those shares or debentures, but without prejudice to the liability, if any, of the persons by whom the offer is made in respect of mis-statements contained in the document or otherwise in respect thereof.

(b)For the purposes of this Law it shall, unless the contrary is proved, be evidence that an allotment of or an agreement to allot shares or debentures or other securities was made with a view to the shares or debentures or other securities being offered for sale to the public, if it is shown:

(i)that an offer of the shares or debentures or other securities or of any of them for sale to the public was made within six months after the allotment or agreement to allot; or

(ii)that at the date when the offer was made the whole of the consideration to be received by the company in respect of the shares or debentures or other securities had not been so received.

(c)Sections 209 and 210 shall apply to the person or persons making the offer as though they were persons named in a prospectus as directors of a company, and the provisions of section 205 shall have effect as if it required a prospectus to state, in addition to the matters required by that section to be stated in a prospectus:

(i)the net amount of the consideration received or to be received by the company in respect of the shares or debentures or other securities to which the offer relates; and

(ii)the place and time at which the contract under which the said shares or debentures or other securities have been or are to be allotted may be inspected.

(d)Where a person making an offer to which this section relates is a company or a firm, it shall be sufficient if the document aforesaid is signed on behalf of the company or firm by all directors of the company or not less than half of the partners, as the case may be, and any such director or partner may sign by his agent authorized in writing.

213.Restriction on alteration of terms mentioned in prospectus or statement in lieu of prospectus

A company shall not, at any time, vary the terms of a contract referred to in the prospectus or statement in lieu of prospectus, except subject to the approval of the company in general meeting.

214. Liability for statements in prospectus

(a)Where a prospectus invites persons to subscribe for shares in or debentures or other securities of a company, every person who is a director of the company at the time of the issue of the prospectus, and every person who has authorized the naming of himself and is named in the prospectus as a director or as having agreed to become a director either immediately or after an interval of time, and every promoter of the company, and every person who has authorized the issue of the prospectus, shall be liable to pay compensation to all persons who subscribe for any shares or debentures or other securities on the faith of the prospectus for all loss or damage they may have sustained by reason of any misleading or untrue statement therein, or in any report or memorandum appearing on the face thereof, or by reference incorporated therein or issued therewith, unless it is proved:

(i)with respect to every misleading or untrue statement not purporting to be made on the authority of an expert or of a public official document or statement, that he had reasonable ground to believe and did up to the time of the allotment of the shares or debentures or other securities, as the case may be, believe that the statement fairly represented the facts or was true;

(ii)with respect to every misleading or untrue statement purporting to be a statement by or contained in what purports to be a copy of or extract from a report or valuation of an expert, that it fairly represented the statement, or was a correct and fair copy of or extract from the report or valuation:

Provided that the director, person named as director, promoter or person who authorized the issue of the prospectus shall be liable to pay compensation as aforesaid if it is proved that he had no reasonable ground to believe that the person making the statement, report or valuation was competent to make it

(iii)with respect to every misleading or untrue statement purporting to be a statement made by an official person or contained in what purports to be a copy of or extract from a public official document, that it was a correct and fair representation of the statement or copy of or extract from the document; or

(iv)that having consented to become a director of the company he withdrew his consent before the issue of the prospectus, and that it was issued without his authority or consent;

(v)that the prospectus was issued without his knowledge or consent, and that, on becoming aware of its issue, he forthwith gave reasonable public notice that it was issued without his knowledge or consent; or

(vi)that, after the issue of the prospectus and before allotment thereunder, he, on becoming aware of any misleading or untrue statement therein, withdrew his consent thereto, and gave reasonable public notice of the withdrawal and of the reason therefor.

(b)Where a company existing at the commencement of the previous law has issued shares or debentures or other securities, and for the purpose of obtaining further capital by subscriptions for shares or debentures or other securities issues a prospectus, a director shall not be liable in respect of any statement therein unless he has authorized the issue of the prospectus, or has adopted or ratified it.

(c)Where the prospectus contains the name of a person as a director of the company, or as having agreed to become a director thereof, and he has not consented to become a director, or has withdrawn his consent before the issue of the prospectus, and has not authorized or consented to the issue thereof, the directors of the company, except any without whose knowledge or consent the prospectus was issued, and any other person who authorized the issue thereof, shall be liable to indemnify the person named as aforesaid against all damages, costs and expenses to which he may be made liable by reason of his name having been inserted in the prospectus, or in defending himself against any suit or legal proceedings brought against him in respect thereof.

(d)Every person who, by reason of his being a director or named as a director or as having agreed to become a director, or of his having authorized the issue of the prospectus, becomes liable to make any payment under this section, may recover contribution, as in cases of contract, from any other person who, if sued separately, would have been liable to make the same payment, unless the person who has become so liable was, and that other person was not, guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e)For the purposes of section 214:

(i)an expert includes an engineer, valuer, accountant and any other person whose profession gives authority to a statement made by him;

(ii)a promoter means a promoter who was a party to the preparation of the prospectus, or the portion thereof containing the misleading or untrue statement, but does not include any person by reason of his acting in a professional capacity for persons engaged in procuring the formation of the company.

Allotment

215. Restriction as to allotment

(a)No allotment shall be made of any share capital of a company offered to the public for subscription unless the amount stated in the prospectus as the minimum amount which in the opinion of the directors must be raised by the issue of share capital in order to provide the sums required to be provided in respect of the matters specified in sub-section (b), or such other amount prescribed by the Union Minister, has been subscribed, and the sum of at least five per cent or such other percentage prescribed by the Union Minister, thereof has been paid to or received in cash by the company.

(b)The matters for which provision for the raising of a minimum amount of share capital must be made by the directors are the following, namely:

(i)the purchase price of any property purchased or to be purchased which is to be defrayed in whole or in part out of the proceeds of the issue;

(ii)any preliminary expenses payable by the company and any commission so payable to any person in consideration of his agreeing to subscribe for or of his procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions for any shares in the company;

(iii)the repayment of any moneys borrowed by the company in respect of any of the foregoing matters; and

(iv)working capital.

(c)The amount referred to in sub-section (a) as the amount stated in the prospectus shall be reckoned exclusively of any amount payable otherwise than in cash and is in this Law referred to as the minimum subscription.

(d)All moneys received from applicants for shares shall be deposited and kept in a scheduled bank until returned in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (f) or until the certificate to commence business is obtained under section 218.

(e)The amount payable on application on each share shall not be less than five per cent of the amount of the share.

(f)If the conditions aforesaid have not been complied with on the expiration of 180 days after the first issue of the prospectus, all money received from applicants for shares shall be forthwith repaid to them without interest, and, if any such money is not so repaid within 190 days after the issue of the prospectus, the directors of the company shall be jointly and severally liable to repay that money with interest at the prescribed rate from the expiration of the 190th day:

Provided that a director shall not be liable if he proves that the loss of the money was not due to any misconduct or negligence on his part.

(g)Any condition requiring or binding any applicant for shares to waive compliance with any requirement of this section shall be void.

(h)This section, except sub-section (e) thereof, shall not apply to any allotment of shares subsequent to the first allotment of shares offered to the public for subscription.

216.In the event of any contravention of the provisions of sub-section 215(d) every promoter, director or other person knowingly responsible for such contravention shall be liable to a fine of 1,000,000 kyats.

217. Effect of irregular allotment

(a)An allotment made by a company to an applicant in contravention of the provisions of section 215 shall be voidable at the instance of the applicant within 28 days after the holding of the statutory meeting of the company and not later, or, in any case where the company is not required to hold a statutory meeting or where the allotment is made after the holding of the statutory meeting, within 28 days after the date of the allotment and not

later, and shall be so voidable notwithstanding that the company is in course of being wound up.

(b)If any director of a company knowingly contravenes or permits or authorizes the contravention of any of the provisions of section 215 with respect to allotment, the director shall be liable to compensate the company and the allottee respectively for any loss, damages or costs which the company or the allottee may have sustained or incurred thereby: Provided that proceedings to recover any such loss, damages or costs shall not be commenced after the expiration of two years from the date of the allotment.

218. Restrictions on commencement of business

(a)A company to which this Division applies shall not commence any business or exercise any borrowing powers unless:

(i)shares held subject to the payment of the whole amount thereof in cash have been allotted to an amount not less in the whole than the minimum subscription;

(ii)every director of the company has paid to the company on each of the shares taken or contracted to be taken by them, and for which the director is liable to pay in cash, a proportion equal to the proportion payable on application and allotment on the shares offered for public subscription or, in the case of a company which does not issue a prospectus inviting the public to subscribe for its shares, on the shares payable in cash;

(iii)there has been filed with the Registrar a duly verified declaration by the secretary or one of the directors in the prescribed form that the aforesaid conditions have been complied with; and

(iv)in the case of a company which does not issue a prospectus inviting the public to subscribe for its shares, there has been filed with the Registrar a statement in lieu of prospectus.

(b)The Registrar shall, on the filing of a duly verified declaration in accordance with the provisions of this section, certify that the company is entitled to commence business, and that certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the company is so entitled:

Provided that, in the case of a company which does not issue a prospectus inviting the public to subscribe for its shares, the Registrar shall not give such a certificate unless a statement in lieu of prospectus has been filed with him.

(c)Nothing in this section shall prevent the simultaneous offer for subscription or allotment of any shares and debentures or other securities or the receipt of any money payable on application for debentures or other securities.

219.If any company commences business or exercises borrowing powers in contravention of section 218, every person who is responsible for the contravention shall, without prejudice to any other liability, be liable to a fine of 1,000,000 kyats.

Commissions and Discounts

220.Power to pay certain commissions and prohibition of payment of all other commissions, discounts, etc.

(a)It shall be lawful for a company to which this Division applies to pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally, for any shares in the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, for any shares in the company, if the payment of the commission is authorized by the constitution of the company and the commission paid or agreed to be paid does not exceed the amount or rate so authorized, and if the amount or rate per cent. of the commission paid or agreed to be paid is:

(i)in the case of shares offered to the public for subscription, disclosed in the prospectus; or

(ii)in the case of shares not offered to the public for subscription, disclosed in the statement in lieu of prospectus in the prescribed form signed and filed with the Registrar, and where a circular or notice, not being a prospectus, inviting subscription for the shares is issued, also disclosed in that circular or notice.

(b)Except as provided in sub-section (a) and section 221, no company shall apply any of its shares or capital money either directly or indirectly in payment of any commission, discount or allowance, to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally, for any shares of the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, for any shares in the company, whether the shares or money be so applied by being added to the purchase-money of any property acquired by the company or to the contracted price of any work to be executed for the company, or the money be paid out of the nominal purchase-money or contracted price, or otherwise.

221.No restriction on lawful payments

Nothing in section 220 shall affect the power of any company to pay such brokerage as it has heretofore been lawful for a company to pay, and a vendor to, promoter of, or other person who receives payment in money or shares from a company shall have and shall be deemed always to have had power to apply any part of the money or shares so received in payment of any commission, the payment of which, if made directly by the company, would have been legal under section 220.

222. Statement in balance sheet as to commissions and discounts

Where a company has paid any sums by way of commission in respect of any shares or the total amount so paid, or so much thereof as has not been written off, shall be stated in every balance-sheet of the company until the whole amount thereof has been written off.

Division 21: Share offers by corporations incorporated outside the Union

223. Restriction on sale and offer for sale of shares

(a)It shall not be lawful for any person:

(i)to make any public offer of shares, debentures or other securities, or issue, circulate or distribute in the Union any prospectus offering for subscription or

sale of shares in or debentures or other securities, of a corporation incorporated or to be incorporated outside the Union, whether the corporation has or has not established, or when formed will or will not establish, a place of business in the Union and register as an overseas corporation under this Law, unless:

(A)before the making of the offer or issue, circulation or distribution of the prospectus in the Union a copy thereof, certified by at least two directors of the corporation as having been approved by resolution of the managing body, has been delivered for registration to the Registrar;

(B)the prospectus states on the face of it that the copy has been so delivered;

(C)the prospectus is dated; and

(D)the prospectus otherwise complies with this Division and any other applicable laws; or

(ii)to issue to any person in the Union a form of application for shares in or debentures or other securities of such a corporation or intended corporation as aforesaid, unless the form is issued with a prospectus which complies with this Division and any other applicable laws:

Provided that this provision shall not apply if it is shown that the form of application was issued in connection with a bona fide invitation to a person to enter into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares or debentures or other securities.

(b)This section shall not apply to the issue to existing members or debenture holders of a corporation of a prospectus or form of application relating to shares in or debentures or other securities of the corporation, whether an applicant for shares or debentures or other securities will or will not have the right to renounce in favour of other persons, but, subject as aforesaid to the rights of existing members or debenture holders, this section shall apply to a prospectus or form of application issued to the general public whether issued on or with reference to the formation of a corporation or subsequently.

(c)Where any document by which any shares in or debentures or other securities of a corporation incorporated outside the Union are offered for sale to the public would, if the corporation concerned had been a company within the meaning of this Law, have been deemed by virtue of section 212 to be a prospectus issued by the corporation, that document shall be deemed to be, for the purposes of this section, a prospectus issued by the corporation.

(d)An offer of shares or debentures or other securities for subscription or sale to any person whose ordinary business or part of whose ordinary business it is to buy or sell shares or debentures or other securities, whether as principal or agent, shall not be deemed an offer to the public for the purposes of this section.

(e)In sections 223 to 227 (inclusive), the expressions “prospectus”, “shares” and “debentures” and “securities” have the same meanings as when used in relation to a company incorporated under this Law.

224. Any person who is knowingly responsible for the public offer or issue, circulation or distribution of any prospectus, or for the issue of a form of application for shares or debentures or other

securities, in contravention of the provisions of section 223 shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

225. Requirements as to prospectus

(a)In order to comply with this Division a prospectus, in addition to complying with the provisions of sub-sections 223(a)(i)(B) and (C), must –

(i) contain particulars with respect to the following matters:

(A)the objects of the corporation;

(B)the instrument constituting or defining the constitution of the corporation;

(C)the enactments or provisions having the force of an enactment, by or under which the incorporation of the corporation was effected;

(D)an address in the Union where the said instrument, enactments or provisions, or copies thereof, and if the same are in a foreign language a translation thereof in the English and Myanmar languages certified in the prescribed manner, can be inspected;

(E) the date on which and the country in which the corporation was incorporated; and

(F) whether the corporation has established a place of business in the Union and registered as an overseas corporation under this Law and, if so, the address of its principal office in the Union:

(ii)subject to the provisions of this section, state the matters specified in sub-section 205(b) and set out the reports specified in that section:

Provided that in section 205 a reference to the constitution of the company shall be deemed to be a reference to the constitution of the corporation.

(b)Any condition requiring or binding any applicant for shares or debentures or other securities to waive compliance with any requirement of this Division, or purporting to affect him with notice of any contract, document, or matter not specifically referred to in the prospectus, shall be void.

(c)In the event of non-compliance with or contravention of any of the requirements of this Division, a director or other person responsible for the prospectus shall not incur any liability by reason of the non-compliance or contravention, if:

(i)as regards any matter not disclosed, the director or other person proves that they were not cognizant thereof;

(ii)director or other person proves that the non-compliance or contravention arose from an honest mistake of fact on their part; or

(iii)the non-compliance or contravention was in respect of matters which, in the opinion of the Court dealing with the case, were immaterial or were otherwise such as ought, in the opinion of that Court, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, reasonably to be excused:

(d)Provided that in the event of failure to include in a prospectus a statement with respect to the matters specified in clause (xvi) of sub-section 205(a), no director or other person shall incur any liability in respect of the failure unless it be proved that he had knowledge of the matters not disclosed.

(e)Nothing in this section shall limit or diminish any liability which any person may incur under the general law, this Law apart from this section, or other applicable laws.

226. Restriction on canvassing for sale of shares

(a)It shall not be lawful for any person to go from house to house offering shares, debentures or other securities of a corporation incorporated outside the Union for subscription or purchase to the public or any member of the public.

(b)In this section the expression “house” shall not include an office used for business purposes.

227. Any person acting in contravention of section 226 shall be liable to a fine of 10,000,000 kyats.

Division 22: Mortgages and charges granted by a company

228. Power to grant Mortgages and Charges

(a)Subject to its constitution and other applicable laws, and without limiting any other powers it may have under this Law or other applicable law, a company shall have the power to create and grant mortgages and charges of the kind specified in section 229, and the Registrar must register such mortgages and charges on submission of them by the company or mortgagee or chargee (or person acting on their behalf) in accordance with section 234.

(b)Neither:

(i) the grant of a mortgage or charge referred to in section 229; or

(ii)the exercise of rights by or on behalf of the mortgagee or chargee under such a mortgage or charge to realise the value of any property secured by the mortgage or charge,

shall be taken to breach, nor be restricted by the Transfer of Immovable Property Restrictions Law 1987, or the provisions of any other applicable law having a similar effect.

Information as to Mortgages, Charges, etc.

229.Certain mortgages and charges to be void if not registered

(a)Every mortgage or charge created after the commencement of this Law by a company and being either:

(i) a mortgage or charge for the purpose of securing any issue of debentures;

(ii)a mortgage or charge on uncalled share capital of the company;

(iii)a mortgage or charge on any immoveable property wherever situate, or any interest therein;

(iv)a mortgage or charge on any book debts of the company;

(v)a mortgage or a charge, not being a pledge on any moveable property of the company except stock-in-trade; or

(vi)a floating charge on the undertaking or property of the company;

shall, subject to sub-section (c), so far as any security on the company’s property or undertaking is thereby conferred, be void against the liquidator and any creditor of the company unless the particulars of the mortgage or charge in the prescribed form, together with a copy of the instrument by which the mortgage or charge is created or evidenced, are filed with the Registrar within 28 days after the date of its creation.

(b)Sub-section (a) applies without prejudice to any contract or obligation for repayment of the money thereby secured, and when a mortgage or charge becomes void under sub-section (a), the money secured thereby shall immediately become payable.

(c)Sub-sections (a) and (b) shall apply subject to the following:

(i)in the case of a mortgage or charge created out of the Union, comprising solely property situate outside the Union, 28 days after the date on which the instrument or copy could, in due course of post and if dispatched with due diligence, have been received in the Union shall be substituted for 28 days after the date of the creation of the mortgage or charge as the time within which the particulars and instrument or copy are to be filed with the Registrar;

(ii)where the mortgage or charge is created in the Union but comprises property outside the Union, the instrument creating or purporting to create the mortgage or charge or a copy thereof verified in the prescribed manner may be filed for registration notwithstanding that further proceedings may be necessary to make the mortgage or charge valid or effectual according to the law of the country in which the property is situate;

(iii)where a negotiable instrument has been given to secure the payment of any book debts of a company, the deposit of the instrument for the purpose of securing an advance to the company shall not for the purposes of this section be treated as a mortgage or charge on those book debts; and

(iv)the holding of debentures entitling the holder to a charge on immoveable property shall not be deemed to be an interest in immoveable property.

(d)Where any mortgage or charge on any property of a company required to be registered under this section has been so registered, any person acquiring such property or any part thereof, or any share or interest therein, shall be deemed to have notice of the said mortgage or charge as from the date of such registration.

230.Registration of charges on properties acquired subject to charge

(a)Where a company acquires any property which is subject to a charge or mortgage of any such kind as would, if it had been created by the company after the acquisition of the property, have been required to be registered under this Division, the company shall cause the particulars of the charge in the prescribed form, together with a copy (certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct copy) of the instrument by which the charge was

created or is evidenced, to be delivered to the Registrar within 28 days after the date on which the acquisition is completed.

(b)Provided that, if the property is situate and the charge was created outside the Union, 28 days after the date on which the copy of the instrument could, if dispatched with due diligence, have been received in the Union shall be substituted for 28 days after the completion of the acquisition as the time within which the particulars and the copy of the instrument are to be delivered to the Registrar.

231.If default is made in complying with section 230, the company and every director or other officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully in default shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

232.Particulars in case of series of debentures entitling holders pari passu

Where a series of debentures containing or giving by reference to any other instrument any charge to the benefit of which the debenture-holders of that series are entitled pari passu is created by a company, it shall be sufficient for the purposes of section 229 if there are filed with the Registrar within 28 days after the execution of the deed containing the charge or, if there is no such deed, after the execution of any debentures of the series, the following particulars:

(a)the total amount secured by the whole series;

(b)the dates of the resolution authorizing the issue of the series and the date of the covering deed (if any) by which the security is created or defined;

(c)a general description of the property charged; and

(d)the names of the trustees (if any) for the debenture-holders; together with the deed or a copy thereof verified in the prescribed manner containing the charge, or if there is no such deed, one of the debentures of the series, and the Registrar shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, enter those particulars in the register:

Provided that, where more than one issue is made of debentures in the series, there shall be filed with the Registrar for entry in the register particulars of the date and amount of each issue, but an omission to do this shall not affect the validity of the debentures issued.

233.Particulars in case of commission, etc., on debentures

Where any commission, allowance or discount has been paid or made either directly or indirectly by the company to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally, for any debentures of the company, or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, for any such debentures, the particulars required to be filed for registration under sections 229 and 232 shall include particulars as to the amount or rate per cent. of the commission, discount or allowance so paid or made, but an omission to do this shall not affect the validity of the debentures issued:

Provided that the deposit of any debentures as security for any debt of the company shall not for the purposes of this provision be treated as the issue of the debentures at a discount.

234.Register of mortgages and charges

(a)The Registrar shall keep, with respect to each company, a register of all mortgages and charges created by the company after the commencement of this Law and requiring registration under section 229, and shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, enter in the

register, with respect to every such mortgage or charge, the date of creation, the amount secured by it, short particulars of the property mortgaged or charged, and the names of the mortgagees or persons entitled to the charge.

(b)After making the entry required by sub-section (a), the Registrar shall return the instrument (if any) or the verified copy thereof, as the case may be, filed in accordance with the provisions of section 229 or section 232, to the person filing the same.

(c)The register kept in pursuance of this section shall be open to inspection by any person on payment of the prescribed fee.

235.Index to register of mortgages and charges

The Registrar shall keep a chronological index, with the prescribed particulars, of the mortgages or charges registered under this Law.

236. Certificate of registration

The Registrar shall give a certificate of the registration of any mortgage or charge registered in pursuance of section 229, stating the amount thereby secured, and the certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements of sections 229 to 234 (inclusive) as to registration have been complied with.

237. Endorsement of certificate of registration on debenture or certificate of debenture stock

(a)The company shall cause a copy of every certificate of registration, given under section 236, to be endorsed on every debenture or certificate of debenture stock which is issued by the company, and the payment of which is secured by the mortgage or charge so registered.

(b)Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a company to cause a certificate of registration of any mortgage or charge so given to be endorsed on any debenture or certificate of debenture stock which has been issued by the company before the mortgage or charge was created.

238. Duty of company and right of interested party as regards registration

(a)It shall be the duty of the company to file with the Registrar for registration in the prescribed form the particulars of every mortgage or charge created by the company and of the issues of debentures of a series, requiring registration under section 229, but registration of any such mortgage or charge may be effected on the application of any person interested therein.

(b)Whenever the terms or conditions or extent or operation of any mortgage or charge registered under this section are modified, it shall be the duty of the company to send to the Registrar the particulars of such modification, and the provisions of this section as to registration of a mortgage or a charge shall apply to such modification of the mortgage or charge as aforesaid.

239.Copy of instrument creating mortgage or charge to be kept at registered office

Every company shall cause a copy of every instrument creating any mortgage or charge requiring registration under section 229 to be kept at the registered office of the company: Provided that, in the case of a series of uniform debentures, a copy of one such debenture shall be sufficient.

240. Registration of appointment of receiver

If any person obtains an order for the appointment of a receiver of the property of a company, or appoints such a receiver under any powers contained in any instrument, he shall, within 28 days from the date of the order or of the appointment under the powers contained in the instrument, file notice of the fact with the Registrar in the prescribed form, and the Registrar shall enter the fact in the register of mortgages and charges.

241. If any person makes default in complying with the requirements of section 240, he shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

242. Filing of accounts of receivers

(a)Every receiver of the property of a company who has been appointed under the powers contained in any instrument, and who has taken possession, shall once in every half-year while he remains in possession, and also on ceasing to act as receiver, file with the Registrar an abstract in the prescribed form of his receipts and payments during the period to which the abstract relates, and shall also, on ceasing to act as receiver, file with the Registrar notice to that effect, and the Registrar shall enter the notice in the register of mortgages and charges.

(b)Where a receiver of the property of a company has been appointed, every invoice, order for goods, or business letter issued by or on behalf of the company, or the receiver of the company, being a document on or in which the name of the company appears, shall contain a statement that a receiver has been appointed.

243. If default is made in complying with the requirements of section 242, the company, and every director or other officer of the company, and every receiver, who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default, shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

244.Rectification of register of mortgages

(a)The Court, on being satisfied that the omission to register a mortgage or charge within the time required by section 229, or that the omission or misstatement of any particular with respect to any such mortgage or charge, or the omission to give intimation to the Registrar of the payment or satisfaction of a debt for which a charge or mortgage was created, 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 share-holders of the company, or that on other grounds it is just and equitable to grant relief, may, on the application of the company or any person interested and on such terms and conditions as seem to the Court just and expedient, order that the time for registration be extended, or, as the case may be, that the omission or misstatement be rectified, and may make such order as to the costs of the application as it thinks fit.

(b)Where the Court extends the time for the registration of a mortgage or charge, the order shall not prejudice any rights acquired in respect of the property concerned prior to the time when the mortgage or charge is actually registered

245.Registration of satisfaction of mortgages and charges

(a)It shall be the duty of the company to give notice to the Registrar of the payment or satisfaction of any charge or mortgage created by the company and requiring registration under section 229 within 28 days from the date of the payment or satisfaction thereof,

together with written notice by the mortgagee or chargee that payment or satisfaction of the charge or mortgage may be recorded.

(b)Upon receipt of a notice in accordance with sub-section (a), the Registrar shall, if no cause is shown, enter a notice of satisfaction on the register and shall if required furnish the company with a copy thereof.

246. Penalties

(a)If any company defaults in filing with the Registrar for registration the particulars:

(i) of any mortgage or charge created by the company; or

(ii)of the payment or satisfaction of a debt in respect of which a mortgage or charge has been registered under section 229 or section 230; or

(iii)of the issues of debentures of a series, requiring registration with the Registrar under the foregoing provisions of this Law,

then, unless the registration has been effected on the application of some other person, the company, and every director and other officer of the company or other person who is knowingly a party to the default, shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

(b)Subject as aforesaid, if any company makes default in complying with any of the requirements of this Law as to the registration with the Registrar of any mortgage or charge created by the company, the company, and every director and other officer of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default, shall, without prejudice to any other liability, be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

(c)If any person knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the delivery of any debenture or certificate of debenture stock requiring registration with the Registrar under the foregoing provisions of this Law without a copy of the certificate of registration being endorsed upon it, he shall, without prejudice to any other liability, be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

247. Company’s register of mortgages and charges

Every company shall keep a register of mortgages and charges and enter therein all mortgages and charges specifically affecting property of the company and all floating charges on the undertaking or on any property of the company, giving in each case a short description of the property mortgaged or charged, the amount of the mortgage or charge and the names of the mortgagees or persons entitled thereto.

248.If any director or other officer of the company knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the omission of any entry required to be made in pursuance of section 247, he shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

249.Right to inspect copies of instruments creating mortgages and charges and company’s register of mortgages and charges

The copies kept at the registered office of the company in pursuance of section 239 of instruments creating any mortgage or charge requiring registration under this Law with the Registrar, and the register of mortgages and charges kept in pursuance of section 247, shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any creditor or member of the company without fee, and the register of

mortgages and charges shall also be open to the inspection of any other person on payment of such reasonable fee as the company may specify.

250.If an inspection of the copies or register under section 249 is refused, the company shall be liable to a fine of 150,000 kyats, and every director or other officer of the company who knowingly authorizes or permits the refusal shall incur the same penalty, and in addition to the above penalty, the Court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the copies or register.

251.Right to inspect the register of debenture-holders and to have copies of trust-deed

(a)Every register of holders of debentures of a company shall, except when closed in accordance with the constitution during such period or periods (not exceeding in the whole 30 days in any year) as may be specified in the constitution, be open to the inspection of the registered holder of any such debentures, and of any holder of shares in the company, but subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may in general meeting impose, so that at least two hours in each day are appointed for inspection, and every such holder may require a copy of the register or any part thereof on payment of such reasonable fee as the company may specify.

(b)A copy of any trust-deed for securing any issue of debentures shall be forwarded to every holder of any such debentures at his request on payment of the reasonable sum as may be specified by the company.

252.If inspection is refused, or a copy is refused or not forwarded as required under section 251, the company shall be liable to a fine of 150,000 kyats, and every director and other officer of the company who knowingly authorizes or permits the refusal shall incur the same penalty, and the Court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the register.

Floating Charges

253.Payments of certain debts out of assets subject to floating charge in priority to claim under the charge

(a)Where either a receiver is appointed on behalf of the holders of any debentures of a company secured by a floating charge, or possession is taken by or on behalf of those debenture-holders of any property comprised in or subject to the charge, then, if the company is not at the time in course of being wound up, the debts which in every winding up are to be paid in priority to all other debts, shall be paid forthwith out of any assets coming to the hands of the receiver or other person taking possession as aforesaid in priority to any claim for principal or interest in respect of the debentures.

(b)The periods of time mentioned in the provisions of Part V or an applicable law shall be reckoned from the date of the appointment of the receiver or of possession being taken as aforesaid, as the case may be.

(c)Any payments made under this section shall be recouped, as far as may be, out of the assets of the company available for payment of general creditors.

Division 23: Appointment of receivers, keeping of book and registration of charges granted by overseas corporations

254.Registration of charges by overseas corporations

The provisions of sections 228 to 239 (inclusive), and 244 to 252 (inclusive), shall extend to charges on properties in the Union which are created and to charges on property in the Union, by an overseas corporation which has an established place of business in the Union and which is registered as an overseas corporation under this Law.

255. Notice of appointment of receiver

The provisions of sections 240 to 243 (inclusive) shall mutatis mutandis apply to the case of all overseas corporations having an established place of business in the Union and which is registered as an overseas corporation under this Law.

256. Keeping of books and records

The provisions of section 258 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the case of all overseas corporations having an established place of business in the Union and which is registered as an overseas corporation under this Law to the extent of requiring them to keep at their principal place of business in the Union the financial records required by that section with respect to money received and expended, sales and purchases made, and assets and liabilities in relation to its business in the Union.

Division 24: Financial Reports and Audit

257. Application of this Division

(a)The:

(i) books of account to be maintained;

(ii)the financial statements and reports to be provided to members;

(iii)the accounting standards to be followed in maintaining such books of account and reports; and

(iv)the auditing standards to be followed in the audit of such accounts,

under this Division will apply subject to the requirements of or made under the Myanmar Accountancy Council Law and any other applicable law.

(b)In the case of any conflict between the requirements of or made under this Division and those of or made under the Myanmar Accountancy Council Law, the requirements of or made under the Myanmar Accountancy Council Law will prevail.

(c)Sections 260 to 268 (inclusive) and 279(b) do not apply to a small company unless:

(i)the constitution of the company applies those sections or includes any similar requirements;

(ii)the members determine to apply those sections by passing an ordinary resolution; or

(iii)the Registrar determines that they should apply.

Statements, Books and Accounts

258. Records to be kept by company for preparation of financial statements

(a)Every company shall cause to be maintained written financial records to enable the preparation of financial statements in Myanmar language or English language in accordance with applicable accounting standards with respect to:

(i)all sums of money received and expended by the company and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place;

(ii)all sales and purchases of goods by the company;

(iii)the assets and liabilities of the company; and

(iv)any other financial matters prescribed under this Law or other applicable law.

(b)The records shall be kept at the registered office of the company or at such other place as the directors think fit, and shall be open to inspection by the directors during business hours.

259.Any director or other officers who have knowingly by their act or omission been the cause of any default by the company in complying with the requirements of section 258 shall in respect of such offence be liable to a fine of 750,000 kyats.

260.Annual balance-sheet

(a)The directors of every company to which this section applies shall at some date not later than eighteen months after the incorporation of the company, and subsequently once at least in every financial year, lay before the company in general meeting financial statements required by this Law or other applicable law, including a balance-sheet and profit and loss account, or in the case of a company not trading for profit an income and expenditure account for the period, in the case of the first account since the incorporation of the company, and in any other case since the preceding account, made up to a date not earlier than the date of the meeting by more than nine months, or in the case of a company carrying on business or having interests outside the Union by more than twelve months:

Provided that the Registrar may for any special reason extend the period by a period not exceeding three months.

(b)The financial statements shall be audited by the auditor of the company as hereinafter provided, and the auditor’s report shall be attached thereto, or there shall be inserted at the foot thereof a reference to the report, and the report shall be laid before the company in general meeting and shall be open to inspection by any member of the company.

(c)Every company to which this section applies shall send a copy of such financial statements, so audited, together with a copy of the auditors’ report, to the registered address of every member of the company with the notice calling the meeting at which it is to be laid before the members of the company, and shall deposit a copy at the registered office of the company for the inspection of the members of the company during a period of at least 21 days before that meeting. Without limiting this Law or any other applicable

law, the company’s constitution may provide for the electronic delivery of the financial statements to members under this section.

261. Directors’ report

(a)The directors of any company to which this section applies shall make out and include with the financial statements a report with respect to the state of the company’s affairs, the amount, if any, which they recommend should be paid by way of dividend, and the amount, if any, which they propose to carry to any Reserve Fund, General Reserve or Reserve Account shown specifically on the balance-sheet, or to a Reserve Fund, General Reserve or Reserve Account to be shown specifically in any subsequent balance-sheet provided with any subsequent financial statements.

(b)The report referred to in sub-section (a) must include a fair review of the company’s business, including a description of the company’s primary business, an analysis of the company’s performance during the year, a description of risks and uncertainties facing the company and any other matters which may be prescribed. The report may be signed by the chairman of the directors on behalf of the directors if authorized in that behalf by the directors.

(c)The provisions of section 259 shall apply to any person being a director or other officer who is knowingly and wilfully guilty of a default in complying with this section.

262.Contents of balance-sheet

(a)The balance-sheet included with the financial statements of any company to which this section applies shall contain a summary of the property and assets and of the capital and liabilities of the company, giving such particulars as will disclose the general nature of those liabilities and assets and how the value of the fixed assets has been arrived at.

(b)The balance-sheet shall be in the form required by the applicable accounting standards or in such other form as required to comply with any applicable law.

(c)The profit and loss account included with the financial statements of any company to which this section applies shall include particulars showing the total of the amount paid, whether as fees, percentages or otherwise, to the directors, respectively, as remuneration for their services, and, where a special resolution passed by the members of the company so requires, to any officer, and the total of the amount written off for depreciation. If any director of the company is by virtue of the nomination, whether direct or indirect, of the company, a director of any other company, any remuneration or other emoluments received by him for his own use, whether as a director of, or otherwise in connection with the management of, that other company, shall be shown in a note at the foot of the account or in a statement attached thereto.

263.Balance-sheet to include particulars as to subsidiaries

(a)Where a company to which this section applies is a holding company there shall be annexed to the balance-sheet of the holding company the audited consolidated financial statement of its subsidiary or subsidiaries required to be prepared under this Law or other applicable law.

(b)If for any reason the directors of the holding company are unable to obtain such information as is necessary for the preparation of the statement in sub-section (a), the

directors who sign the balance-sheet shall so report in writing and their report shall be annexed to the balance-sheet in lieu of the statement.

(c)The holding company may by a resolution authorize representatives named in the resolution to inspect the financial records kept in accordance with section 258 by any subsidiary, and on such resolution being passed those financial records shall be open to inspection by those representatives at any time during business hours.

(d)The rights conferred by section 268 upon members of a company may be exercised in respect of any subsidiary by members of the holding company as if they were members of that subsidiary.

264.Authentication of balance-sheet

The balance-sheet required to be maintained by a company to which this Division applies, shall be signed by one director and any other officer or, when there are less than two directors, by the sole director of the company.

265.If any default is made in laying before the company or in issuing a financial statement required by this Division, or if any balance-sheet and profit and loss account, or income and expenditure account or other financial statement, is issued, circulated or published which does not comply with the requirements laid down by and under section 260, section 262, section 263 and section 264, the company and every director and other officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default shall be punishable with fine of 5,000,000 kyats.

266. Copy of financial statements to be forwarded to the Registrar

(a)After the financial statements have been laid before the company at the general meeting, a copy of the financial statements, signed by a director or secretary of the company, shall be filed with the Registrar at the same time as the copy of the annual list of members and summary prepared in accordance with the requirements of section 97.

(b)If the general meeting before which the financial statements are laid does not adopt the financial statements, a statement of that fact and of the reasons therefor shall be annexed to the financial statements and to the copy thereof required to be filed with the Registrar.

(c)This section shall not apply to a private company.

267. If a company makes default in complying with the requirements of section 266, the company and every director or other officer of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the default shall be liable to a fine of 250,000 kyats.

268.Right of member of company to copies of the financial statements and the auditor’s report

Save as otherwise provided in this Law, any member of a company shall be entitled to be furnished with copies of the financial statements that the company is required to prepare under this Division.

Investigation by the Registrar

269.Power of Registrar to call for information or explanation

(a)Where the Registrar, on perusal of any document which a company is required to submit to the Registrar under the provisions of this Law, is of opinion that any information or explanation is necessary in order that such document may afford full particulars of the

matter to which it purports to relate, the Registrar may, with written notice, call on the company submitting the document to furnish in writing such information or explanation within such time as the Registrar may specify in his notice.

(b)On the receipt of a notice under sub-section (a), it shall be the duty of all persons who are or have been directors or officers of the company to furnish such information or explanation to the best of their ability.

(c)On receipt of such information or explanation the Registrar may annex the same to the original document submitted to the Registrar and any additional document so annexed by the Registrar shall be subject to the same provisions as to inspection and the taking of copies as the original document is subject.

(d)If such information or explanation is not furnished within the specified time, or if after perusal of such information or explanation the Registrar is of opinion that the document in question discloses an unsatisfactory state of affairs, or that it does not disclose a full and fair statement of the matters to which it purports to relate, the Registrar shall report in writing the circumstances of the case to the Union Minister.

(e)If it is represented to the Registrar in materials placed before the Registrar by any contributory or creditor that the business of a company is carried on in fraud of its creditors or in fraud of persons dealing with the company or for a fraudulent purpose, the Registrar may, after giving the company an opportunity of being heard by written notice, call on the company for information or explanation on matters specified in the notice within such time as the Registrar may specify in the notice, and the provisions of sub-sections (b) and (d) of this section and section 270 shall apply to such notice. If upon investigation the Registrar is satisfied that any representation on which the Registrar has taken action under this sub-section is frivolous or vexatious, the Registrar shall disclose the identity of the informant to the company.

(f)The provisions of this section shall apply mutatis mutandis to documents which a liquidator is required to file under this Law.

270.If any person refuses or neglects to furnish any such information or explanation as required under section 269, such person shall be liable to a fine of 5,000,000 kyats in respect of each offence, and the Court may on the application of the Registrar and upon notice to the company make an order on the company for production of such documents as may be required by the Registrar for the Registrar’s investigation and allow the Registrar inspection thereof on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.

Inspections

271. Investigation of affairs of company by inspectors

(a)Subject to sub-section (b), the Union Minister may appoint one or more competent inspectors to investigate the affairs of any company and to report thereon in such manner as the Union Minister may direct:

(i)in the case of any company having a share capital, on the application of members holding not less than one-tenth of the shares issued;

(ii)in the case of a company not having a share capital, on the application of not less than one-fifth in number of the persons on the company’s register of members;

(iii)in the case of any company, on a report by the Registrar under sub-section 269(d); or

(iv)in the case of any company, on a request by the Registrar if the Registrar reasonably believes that such an investigation is necessary in the public interest.

(b)Before appointing an inspector under sub-section (a) the Union Minister must believe on reasonable grounds that:

(i)the company or one of its directors or officers may have committed an offence under this Law or other applicable law; and

(ii)where applicable, the application referred to in sub-section (a)(i) or (ii) was made in good faith and on reasonable grounds.

272.Union Minister’s right to direct investigation

The Union Minister may, at any time, in the interest of the public, direct the investigation of the affairs of a company by one or more competent inspectors appointed in this behalf.

273. Application for inspection to be supported by evidence

An application by members of a company under section 271 shall be supported by such evidence as the Union Minister may require for the purpose of showing that the company or one of its directors or officers may have committed an offence under this Law or other applicable law and that the applicants have good reason for, and are not actuated by malicious motives in requiring, the investigation and the Union Minister may, before appointing an inspector, require the applicants to give security for payment of the costs of the inquiry.

274. Inspection of books and examination of officers

(a)It shall be the duty of all persons who are or have been directors or officers of the company to produce to the inspectors all books and documents in their custody or power relating to the company.

(b)An inspector may examine any such person in relation to the company’s business.

275. If any person refuses to produce any book or document which under section 274 it is his duty to produce, or to answer any question relating to the affairs of the company, he shall be liable to a fine of 5,000,000 kyats in respect of each offence.

276. Results of examination and submission of report

(a)On the conclusion of the investigation the inspectors shall report their findings and opinion on the investigation to the Union Minister, and a copy of the report shall be forwarded by the Union Minister to the Registrar and another copy to the registered office of the company, and a further copy shall, at the request of the applicants for the investigation, be delivered to them.

(b)All expenses of, and incidental to, the investigation shall be defrayed by the applicants unless the Union Minister directs the same to be paid by the company, which the Union Minister is hereby authorized to do:

Provided that the expenses of and incidental to an investigation held in pursuance of sub-section 271(a)(iii) or (iv) shall be paid out of the assets of the company and shall be recoverable as an arrear of revenue.

(c)The Registrar shall keep the copy of the report sent to the Registrar with the records of the company held by the Registrar.

277. Institution of prosecutions

(a)If from any report made under section 271 or 272 it appears to the Union Minister on reasonable grounds that any person has been guilty of any offence in relation to the company under this Law or another applicable law, the Ministry shall seek the advice of the Union Attorney-General’s Office.

(b)If the Union Attorney-General’s Office advises that the case is one in which a prosecution ought to be instituted, the Registrar shall cause proceedings to be instituted, and it shall be the duty of all directors, officers and agents of the company, past and present (other than the accused in the proceedings), to give all assistance in connection with the prosecution which they are reasonably able to give.

(c)For the purposes of sub-section (b), the expression “agents” in relation to a company shall be deemed to include the bankers and legal advisers of the company and any persons employed by the company as auditors, whether those persons are or are not officers of the company.

(d)Any director or officer of the company convicted as the result of a prosecution initiated under this section shall not without the leave of the Court be a director of or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned in or take part in the management of a company for a period of five years from the date of such conviction,

278.Report of inspectors to be evidence

A copy of the report of any inspectors appointed under this Law, authenticated by the seal of the company whose affairs they have investigated or by the Union Minister, shall be admissible in any legal proceeding as evidence of the opinion of the inspectors in relation to any matter contained in the report.

Auditors

279. Qualifications and appointment of auditors

(a)No person shall be appointed or act as an auditor of a public company or a subsidiary of a public company unless he holds a certificate from such other person or body authorised under the Myanmar Accountancy Council Law entitling him to act as an auditor of companies:

Provided that a firm whereof all the partners practising in the Union hold such certificates may be appointed by its firm-name to be auditor of a company, and may act in its firm-name.

(b)Every company to which this section applies shall at each annual general meeting appoint an auditor or auditors to hold office until the next annual general meeting.

(c)If an appointment of an auditor is required and is not made at an annual general meeting, the Union Minister may, on the application of any member of the company, appoint an

auditor of the company for the current year, and fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor by the company for his services.

(d)The following persons shall not be appointed auditors of the company:

(i) a director or officer of the company; and

(ii)a partner of such director or officer; and

(iii)in the case of a public company or a subsidiary of a public company any person in the employment of such director or officer; and

(iv)any person indebted to the company,

and if any person after being appointed auditor becomes indebted to the company his appointment shall thereupon be terminated.

(e)A person, other than a retiring auditor, shall not be capable of being appointed auditor at an annual general meeting unless notice of an intention to nominate that person to the office of auditor has been given by a member of the company to the company not less than 14 days before the date on which notices for such annual general meeting must be sent to members, and the company shall send a copy of any such notice to the retiring auditor, and shall give notice thereof to its members, with the notice of meeting and if desired by advertisement or in any other mode allowed by the constitution of the company:

Provided that, if after notice of the intention to nominate an auditor has been given to the company, notice of an annual general meeting is sent 14 days or less after the notice has been given, the requirements of this section as to time in respect of such a notice of the intention to nominate an auditor shall be deemed to have been satisfied, and the notice must be sent or given at the same time as the notice of the annual general meeting.

(f)The first auditors of a company may be appointed by the directors before the statutory meeting, and if so appointed shall hold office until the first annual general meeting unless previously removed by a resolution of the members of the company in general meeting, in which case such members at that meeting may appoint auditors.

(g)The directors may fill any casual vacancy in the office of auditor, but while any such vacancy continues the surviving or continuing auditor or auditors (if any) may act.

(h)The remuneration of the auditors of a company shall be fixed by the company in general meeting, except that the remuneration of any auditors appointed before the statutory meeting, or to fill any casual vacancy, may be fixed by the directors.

(i) This section applies without limitation to the requirements of any other applicable law.

280. Powers and duties of auditors

(a)Every auditor of a company shall have a right of access at all times to the financial records, books and accounts and vouchers of the company, and shall be entitled to require from the directors and officers of the company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.

(b)The auditors shall make a report to the members of the company on the accounts examined by them, and on every financial statement laid before the company in general meeting during their tenure of office, and the report shall state:

(i)whether or not they have obtained all the information and explanations they have required;

(ii)whether or not in their opinion the financial statements referred to in the report are drawn up in conformity with applicable law;

(iii)whether or not the financial statements exhibit a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs according to the best of their information and the explanations given to them, and as shown by the books of the company; and

(iv)whether in their opinion financial records have been kept by the company as required by this Division.

(c)Where any of the matters referred to in sub-section (b) is answered in the negative or with a qualification, the report shall state the reason for such answer.

(d)The auditors of a company shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend any general meeting of the company at which any accounts which have been examined or reported on by them are to be laid before the company and may make any statement or explanation they desire with respect to the accounts.

(e)Where an auditor resigns or is replaced in accordance with this Division, the auditor who has resigned or been replaced may make such statement or report to the company concerning the financial affairs of the company as the auditor, acting reasonably, in good faith and consistent with the auditor’s duties and professional obligations, considers necessary. The directors shall ensure that the report is provided to members and submitted to the Registrar within 28 days of receipt. The directors may include any commentary on the report provided by the auditor that they consider necessary.

(f)This section applies without limitation to any other provision of this Law or any other applicable law.

281.If any auditors’ report is made which does not comply with the requirements of section 280, every auditor who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default shall be punishable with a fine of 5,000,000 kyats.

282.Application to company in which the Government holds shares

(a)In the case of a company in which the Government holds any share the following provisions shall apply notwithstanding anything contained in sections 260, 279 and 280.

(b)The auditor of a company in which Government holds any share shall be appointed or re-appointed by the Union Minister on the advice of the Union Auditor-General.

(c)The Union Auditor-General shall have power:

(i)to direct the manner in which the company’s accounts be audited by the auditor appointed in pursuance of sub-section (b) and to give such auditor instructions in regard to any matter relating to the performance of his functions as such;

(ii)to conduct a supplementary or test audit of the company’s accounts by such person or persons as he may authorise in this behalf; and for the purposes of such audit, to require information or additional information to be furnished to any person or persons so authorised, on such matters, by such person or persons, and in such form, as the Union Auditor-General may, by general or special order, direct; and

(iii)to require the company to produce before him such records or documents in its possession or under its control for the purposes of audit or supplementary or test audit of the company’s account and at such time as may be specified by him.

(d)Any order requiring any information, records or documents to be furnished or produced by a company may also be addressed to any person who is, or has at any time been, an officer or employee of the company, and all the provisions of this section, so far as may be, shall apply in relation to such person as they apply in relation to the company.

(e)The auditor aforesaid shall submit a copy of his audit report to the Union Auditor-General who shall have the right to comment upon, or supplement, the audit report in such manner as he may think fit.

(f)The Ministry may issue regulations, rules, by-laws, notifications, orders, directives and procedures as required in respect of companies in which the Government holds any share.

283. Delegation

Anything which under section 282 is required to be done by the Union Minister may be done by any person authorised by him, either generally or specially.

284. Penalty

If a company in which Government holds any share fails to comply with an order made under section 282, the company and every director or other officer or employee thereof who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with a fine of 5,000,000 kyats.

285. Rights of preference shareholders, etc., as to receipt and inspection of reports, etc.

Holders of preference shares and debentures of a company shall have the same right to receive and inspect the financial statements of the company and the reports of the auditors and other reports as is possessed by the holders of ordinary shares in the company.

Division 25: Arbitration, compromise with creditors and members and buy-out rights

286. Power for companies to refer matters to arbitration

Without limiting any other means by which a company may seek to resolve a dispute, a company may by written agreement refer to arbitration, in accordance with the Arbitration Law or other applicable law, an existing or future difference between itself and any other company or person.

287. Power to compromise with creditors and members

(a)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 Court may, on the application in a summary way of the company or of any creditor or member of the company or, in the case of a company being wound up, of the liquidator,

order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors or of the members of the company or class of members, as the case may be, to be called, held and conducted in such manner as the Court directs.

(b)If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, or members or class of members, as the case may be, present either in person or by proxy at the meeting, agree to any compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Court, be binding on all the creditors or the 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.

(c)An order made under sub-section (b) shall have no effect until a certified copy of the order has been filed with the Registrar, and a copy of every such order shall be annexed to every copy of the constitution of the company issued after the order has been made.

(d)The Court may, at any time after an application has been made to it under this section, stay the commencement or continuation of any suit or proceeding against a company on such terms as it thinks fit and proper until the application is finally disposed of.

(e)In this section the expression “company” means any company liable to be wound up under this Law, and for the purposes of this section unsecured creditors who may have filed suits or obtained decrees shall be deemed to be of the same class as other unsecured creditors.

(f)An appeal shall lie from any order made by the Court exercising original jurisdiction under this section to the authority authorized to hear appeals from the decisions of the Court.

288.If a company makes default in complying with sub-section 287(c), the company and every director or other officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully in default shall be liable to a fine of 150,000 kyats.

289. Provisions for facilitating arrangements and compromises

(a)Where an application is made to the Court under section 287 for the sanctioning of a compromise or arrangement proposed between a company and any such persons as are mentioned in that section, and it is shown to 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 company or companies or the amalgamation of any two 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 a “transferor company”) is to be transferred to another company (in this section referred to as “the transferee company”), the Court may, either by the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement or by any subsequent order, make provision for all or any of the following matters:

(i)the transfer to the transferee company of the whole or any part of the undertaking and of the property or liabilities of any transferor company;

(ii)the allotting or appropriation by the transferee company of any shares, debentures, securities, 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;

(iii)the continuation by or against the transferee company of any legal proceedings pending by or against any transferor company;

(iv)the dissolution, without winding up, of any transferor company;

(v)the provision to be made for any persons who, within such time and in such manner as the Court directs, dissent from the compromise or arrangement;

(vi)such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation shall be fully and effectively carried out.

(b)Where an order under this section provides for the transfer of property or liabilities, that property shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and vest in, and those liabilities shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and become the liabilities of, the transferee company, and in the case of any property, if the order so directs, freed from any charge which is by virtue of the compromise or arrangement to cease to have effect.

(c)Where an order is made under this section, every company in relation to which the order is made shall cause a certified copy thereof to be delivered to the Registrar for registration within 14 days after the completion of the order.

(d)In this section the expression “property” includes property, rights and powers of every description, and the expression “liabilities” includes duties.

(e)Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section 287(e), the expression “company” in this section does not include any company other than a company within the meaning of this Law.

290.If default is made in complying with sub-section 289(c), the company and every director or other officer of the company who is knowingly and wilfully in default shall be liable to a fine of 150,000 kyats.

291.Power to acquire shares in a public company of shareholders dissenting from a contract approved by majority

(a)Without limitation to any other applicable law, where a contract involving the transfer of shares or any class of shares in a public company (in this section referred to as “the transferor company”) to another company (in this section referred to as the “transferee company”), has within four months after the making of the offer in that behalf by the transferee company been approved by the holders of not less than three-fourths in value of the shares affected, the transferee company may, at any time within two months after the expiration of the said four months, give notice in the specified manner to any dissenting shareholder that it desires to acquire his shares, and where such a notice is given the transferee company shall, unless on an application made by the dissenting shareholder within 28 days from the date on which the notice was given the Court thinks fit to order otherwise, be entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on which under the scheme or contract the shares of the approving shareholders are to be transferred to the transferee company.

(b)Where a notice has been given by the transferee company under this section and the Court has not, on an application made by the dissenting shareholder, ordered to the contrary, the transferee company shall, on the expiration of 28 days from the date on which the notice has been given or, if an application to the Court by the dissenting shareholder is then pending, after that application has been disposed of, subject to compliance with any other applicable law, transmit a copy of the notice to the transferor company and pay or transfer to the transferor company the amount or other consideration representing the price payable by the transferee company for the shares which by virtue of this section that company is entitled to acquire, and the transferor company shall thereupon register the transferee company as the holder of those shares.

(c)Any sums received by the transferor company under this section shall be paid into a separate bank account, and any such sums and any other consideration so received shall be held by that company on trust for the several persons entitled to the shares in respect of which the said sums or other consideration were respectively received.

(d)In this section the expression “dissenting shareholder” includes a shareholder who has not assented to the contract and any shareholder who has failed or refused to transfer his shares to the transferee company in accordance with the scheme or contract.

 
 

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