Singapore - Key Legislative Amendments Targeted For Implementation In Early 2018
EXEMPTION FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM HOLDING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGMs)
Currently, private companies need not hold AGMs if all members have approved a resolution to dispense with the holding of AGMs.
Under the Singapore Companies (Amendment) Act 2017, private companies will be exempted from holding AGMs if they send financial statements (“FS”) to their members within 5 months after the financial year end (“FYE”). Accordingly, private companies that are dormant relevant companies under section 201A of the Singapore Companies Act will be exempted from holding AGMs.
The following safeguards will be put in place:
- A member who wishes to request that an AGM be held must notify the company to hold an AGM not later than 14 days before the last day of the 6th month after FYE;
- Directors must hold an AGM within 6 months after FYE if notified by any one member of the company to do so. The company may seek the Registrar’s approval for an extension of time to hold AGM; and
- Private companies must hold a general meeting to lay financial statements if any member or auditor requests for it not later than 14 days after the financial statements are sent out.
Private dormant relevant companies exempt from sending financial statements will not need to hold AGM, subject to the above-mentioned safeguards.
COMPANIES DISPENSE WITH HOLDING OF AGMs
The current option for private companies to dispense with the holding of AGMs will remain but timelines will be changed for consistency with effect from January 2018.
CURRENT | FROM EARLY 2018 |
AR due date is 30 days after FS is sent and AGM resolutions passed | AR due date will be 7 months after FYE |
A member may request for AGM within 3 months before year end | A member may request for AGM not later than 14 days before the last day of the 6th month after FYE |
If the dispensation resolution ceases to be in force, AGM must be held if at least 3 months of the year remaining | If the dispensation resolution ceases to be in force, AGM must be held if at least 3 months remain to the AGM due date |
ALIGNMENT OF TIMELINES FOR HOLDING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGMs) AND FILING ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE FINANCIAL YEAR END (FYE)
Currently, companies have to ascertain the deadlines for holding AGMs and filing annual returns annually, which may change every year based on a series of criteria. To simplify this process, the deadlines for holding AGMs and filing annual returns will be aligned with the companies’ FYE. Importantly, the amendments include new laws on how FYE will be determined.
TIMELINE FOR HOLDING AGMs AND FILING OF ANNUAL RETURNS
CURRENT | FROM EARLY 2018 |
HOLDING OF AGMs | |
| For listed companies: For any other company: |
CURRENT | FROM EARLY 2018 |
FILING OF ANNUAL RETURNS | |
For companies having a share capital and keeping a branch register outside Singapore
For other companies
| For companies having a share capital and keeping a branch register outside Singapore:
For other companies:
Annual return can be filed only:
|
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