Tag: delinquency provisions

As a bare minimum, directors are required to act in a manner which benefits the company – that is, to act in the company's best interests. This is entrenched in section 76 of the Companies Act which requires all directors, alternate directors and prescribed officers to act in good faith, in the best interests of the company and with the necessary degree of care, skill and diligence and prevents such persons from (1) abusing their position; and (2) knowingly causing harm to the company.

The delinquency provisions in the Companies Act are emerging as a key remedy against misconduct by directors in both the public and private sectors. What we have seen recently is that these delinquency provisions are increasingly being used to hold directors to account for misconduct. Directors must take note of this, because the penalties are extremely severe.