Registering or Transferring a Company

Do you want to register a new company?

The Companies Act of 2008 determines that two types of companies can be formed and incorporated under the Act, namely Profit companies and Non-Profit companies.

A profit company can be any one of the following:

- A state-owned company;

- A private company if its Memorandum of Incorporation prohibits it from offering any of its securities to the public and restricts the transferability of its securities;

- A personal liability company if it meets the criteria for a private company and its Memorandum of Incorporation states that it is a personal liability company; or

- A Public company.


Who can incorporate a company?

- One or more persons can incorporate a profit company, or three or more persons may incorporate a non-profit company, by attending to the following:

  • Completing and signing in person or by proxy, a Memorandum of Incorporation in the prescribed form or in a form unique to the company; and

  • Filing a Notice of Incorporation;

  • Paying the prescribed fee.


How do I reserve a company name?

An application to reserve a name in terms of the Companies Act must be made in the form of CoR9.1 and may include as many as four alternative names listed in order of preference and must be accompanied by the applicable fee and any relevant documentation or evidence required in terms of the regulations with respect to each name included in the application. A reserved name can also be transferred.


How do I transfer a foreign company to South Africa?

An application by a foreign company to transfer its registration to the Republic of South Africa must be filed in the Form CoR17.1 and must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • A copy of its Memorandum of Incorporation to be registered in the Republic, and a copy of its founding statement in a foreign jurisdiction;

  • A copy of the certificate of its current registration issued by the jurisdiction in which it is registered at the time of the application;

  • A copy of its most recent annual financial statements;

  • A copy of the shareholder resolution approving the transfer of the company's registration to the Republic;

  • Satisfactory evidence that the company satisfies the requirements set out in the Act;

  • Payment of the applicable fee.


How do I convert a Close Corporation (CC) to a Company?

A Close Corporation can be converted to a Company by filing a Notice of conversion of a close corporation (CC) and must be accompanied by a written statement of consent signed by the members of the corporation holding at least 75% of the member's interest in the corporation and a Memorandum of Incorporation and proof of payment of the applicable fee.

We will register your company with the CIPC and obtain your company registration documents. We can assist you with all further requirements such as:

  • Registration for VAT, PAYE, UIF, COMPANY TAX, etc.

  • Drawing up Shareholders Agreement

  • Change of Members of Close Corporation (CC)

  • Change of Directors in Company

  • Issuing of Share certificates

  • Drawing up a unique Memorandum of Incorporation.