Chapter: 32 COMPANIES ORDINANCE
Section Num: 153A Version Date 13/02/2004
Directors of private companies
(1) Every private company shall have at least one director.
(2) If a private company has not at any time sent to the Registrar under section 158 a return containing the name of at least one director of the company, the following shall, until the return is so sent, be deemed to be a director of the company-
(a) if the company is not a member of a group of companies of which a listed company is a member, the person whose name appears first in the list of subscribers to the memorandum of the company; or
(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply to the company and one or more individuals are named as subscribers in the list of subscribers to the memorandum of the company-
(i) where one individual only is so named in the memorandum, that individual; or
(ii) where 2 or more individuals are so named in the memorandum, the first individual so named.
(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), if any private company makes default in complying with subsection (1), the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a fine and, for continued default, to a daily default fine.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), where the number of directors of a private company is reduced to zero by reason of the office of any director being vacated, the company or any officer of the company shall not be liable for any default in respect thereof under this section unless the default continues for a period of 2 months beginning on the day on which the office is vacated.
(5) Where the number of directors of a private company having only one director is reduced to zero by reason of the death of that director and the deceased director was, at the date of death, the sole member of the company, the company or any officer of the company shall not be liable for any default in respect thereof under this section unless the default continues for a period of 4 months beginning on the date of the grant of probate of the will, or of letters of administration of the estate, of the deceased director.
(6) Where a private company has only one member and that member is the sole director of the company, the company may in general meeting, notwithstanding anything in its articles, nominate a person (other than a body corporate) who has attained the age of 18 years as a reserve director of the company to act in the place of the sole director in the event of his death. Where the company nominates a reserve director, it shall send to the Registrar particulars of the nomination in accordance with section 158(4), (4A) and (4B).
(7) The nomination of a person as a reserve director of a private company ceases to be valid if-
(a) before the death of the director in respect of whom he was nominated-
(i) he resigns as reserve director in accordance with section 157D; or
(ii) the company in general meeting revokes the nomination; or
(b) the director in respect of whom he was nominated ceases to be the sole member and sole director of the company for any reason other than the death of that director.
(8) Subject to compliance with the conditions set out in subsection
(9), in the event of the death of the director in respect of whom the reserve director is nominated, the reserve director shall be deemed to be a director of the company for all purposes until such time as-
(a) a person is appointed as a director of the company in accordance with its articles; or
(b) he resigns from his office of director in accordance with section 157D, whichever is the earlier.
(9) The conditions referred to in subsection (8) are-
(a) the nomination of the reserve director has not ceased to be valid under subsection (7); and
(b) the reserve director is not prohibited by law from acting as a director of the company.
(Added 28 of 2003 s. 56)