Business
Companies Act 15 of 2013 with online registration and simplified private companies
The Companies Act 15 of 2013 replaced the 1984 Act, removing the authorised-capital concept and permitting single-shareholder companies. Registration is with the Registrar General, now largely online. The Insolvency Act 9 of 2016 introduced business rescue.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Registrar General registers; the Commercial Division of the High Court hears disputes.
- Deadline — Annual return: filed with the Registrar General each year
- Deadline — Business name registration: required in addition to incorporation for trading names
Governing law
- Companies Act 15 of 2013
- Insolvency Act 9 of 2016
- Business Registration Act 14 of 2012
In practice
The 2013 Act modernised on New Zealand lines — solvency-based distributions, no par value — and its combination with the separate Business Registration Act means most Malawian traders have two registrations to maintain rather than one.