Development Bank of Southern Africa Act
This provision defines key terms, says the DBSA continues as the Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited, and requires company registration steps by the Registrar of Companies.
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- South Africa
- Instrument
- Act or statute
- Citation
- Act 13 of 1997
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- en
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About this statute
This provision defines key terms, says the DBSA continues as the Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited, and requires company registration steps by the Registrar of Companies. The Bank has broad powers to fund, lend, invest, guarantee, borrow, act for others, and set up entities or offices to support its objects. This section bars disqualified people and certain public office-holders from serving as directors, sets board and meeting rules, governs CEO appointment and acting appointments, and regulates share capital and large share transfers by institutional shareholders. Dividends must be authorised by the board and approved by shareholders; the board must keep proper books and records and publish an annual report. The Minister may make regulations if requested by the shareholders or the board.
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Provisions of Development Bank of Southern Africa Act
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- 1 Verify source ↗
In this Act, unless the context otherwise mdicates-
AI-assisted research summary: This provision defines key terms, says the DBSA continues as the Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited, and requires company registration steps by the Registrar of Companies.
1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise mdicates- (i) "Bank" means the Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited, reconsti- S tuted and incorporated as provided for by section 2; (ii) (ii) "board" means the board of directors of the Bank mentioned in section 7; . · (viii) · · · (iii) · "DBSA (1983)" means the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which was· established in 1983 by treaty; (vii) 10 (iv) "effective date" means the date on which this Act comes into operation; (iii) (v) "institutional shareholders" means the holders of shares in the Bank, excluding the Government of the Republic and any individual, but including .. national, international or multilateral institutions; (v) (vi) "Minister" means the Minister of Finance or the Minister who for the time 15 being acts in his or her stead; (vi) (vii) "region" means the national territory of the Republic of South Africa and the national territories of the countries determined by regulation; (x) (viii) "regulation" means any regulation made in tenns of section 17; (ix) (ix) "shares" means the shares referred to in section 13; (i) (x) "this Act" includes the regulations. (iv) · · 20 4 No. 17962 GOVERNMENT GAZETIE. 25 APRIL 1997 Act No. 13, 1997 DEVELOPMENT BANK Or SOUTHERN AFRICA ACT, 1997. Continued existence as juristic person of Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited . .. 2. (1) The institution which immediately before the effective date existed as DBSA (1983) shall continue to exist as a juristic person by the name the "Development Bank of Southern Africa Limited", and shall have the powers, functions and duties provided 5 for in this Act, which shall be exercised; perfonned and carried out by the Bank subject to the provisions of this Act. _ .. • . . . .(2) The Registrar of Companies shall enter the name of the Bank in the register kept in terms of the Companies Act, 1973, and shall issue to the Bank a certificate to that effect. - · · · · · · · · ' 10 Objects of Bank 3. (1} The main objects of the Bank shall be the promotion of economic development and growth, human resources development, institutional capacity building, and the support of development projects and programmes in the region by- · . · · ·' · ' (a) mobilising financial and other resources from the private and public sectors; 15 national or· ii:itemational, on a· wholesale basis, as determined· in the regulations; · ' . · · (b) appraising, planning and monitoring the implementation of development projects and programmes; - ( c) facilitating . the participation of the private sector . and· community 20 organisations in development projects and programmes; ' · '. (d) providing technical assistance, particularly in respect of human resource development and training with ·regard to the identification, preparation, . evaluation, financing, implementation and management of development . projects and programmes; funding or mobilising wholesale funding, as determined in the regulations, for initiatives to minimise or mitigate the environmental impact of development projects or programmes. ( e) 25 (2) Ancillary objects of the Bank shall be- (a) to assist other international, national, regional and provincial initiatives in 30 order to achieve an integrated finance system for development; and (b) to assist other institutions in the national or international public and private sectors with the management of specific funds, in order that the developmental requirements of the region may be met. Powers of Bank 35 - 4 Verify source ↗
For the purpose of attaining its objects, the Bank shall have the power-
AI-assisted research summary: The Bank has broad powers to fund, lend, invest, guarantee, borrow, act for others, and set up entities or offices to support its objects.
4. For the purpose of attaining its objects, the Bank shall have the power- . (a) . to appraise, approve or mobilise wholesale funding, as determined in the regulations, for, and to monitor the implementation of, development projects and programmes; ( b) to lend or advance money to any person or private or public body engaged in 40 or proposing to engage in development projects and programmes in the region; to acquire an interest in it or to provide capital for it, or by underwriting or otherwise, to assist in the acquisition of capital for it; : ( c). to hold, manage, develop, let, hire, buy, subscribe to, or otherwise acquire, or to sell or otherwise dispose of, hypothecate or otherwise deal in immovable or 45 movable property, including stocks, shares, bonds, debentures and securities of, or any other interest in, any company, and if necessary to act as trustee for debenture holders; , · · · · · ( d) . to make, diaw, accept or endorse negotiable instruments; (e) 'to-guarantee any undertaking given in relation to the financing of any person, 50 private or public body, or the performance of any contract by any person, private or public body, or to indemnify any person, public or private body in 6 No. 17962 GOVERNMENT GAZEITE, 25 APRIL 1997 Act No. 13, 1997 - - DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUffiERN AFRICA ACT, 1997 · : respect of the costs attaching to legal proceedings or in respect of any loss or · (j) damage, arising from- (i) the financing of such person or private or public body; or (ii) • the entering into of any contract by such person, private or public body; to receive grants and donations, issue debentures or- debenture stock or· 5 otherwise to raise wholesale loans, as determined in the regulations, or borrow, . money, provided the amount owing at any time in respect of loans raised or moneys borrowed shall not, ..yithout the approval of the shareholders of the Bank, previously given at a meeting of those shareholders, at any time exceed _ the limitations set by regulation; (g) . to act as an agent or trustee, manager or' secretary of any person: national or international pnvate or public body, and to appoint any person to act on behalf of the Bank as a director or in any other capacity in relation to such person, private or public body, irrespective of whether or not such person carries on business within the region or elsewhere; (h) to establish, within the region or elsewhere, any juristic person capable of exercising, performing or carrying out such" powers, functions and duties as may or shall be cxcrcisCd, performed or carried out by the Bank in terms of _ this Act,' and to :open offices within the region and elsewhere; to provide technical and other assistance and to give advice, information· and 20 - 15 (i) 10 -- , . · ' . · · · - - . - _ guidance, .. . _ _ and, generally, -to enter into any contract or perform any act, whether within the Republic, region or elsewhere, which may promote the att~ent of any ·of the objects of the Bank, or which is designed to directly or indirectly enhance the value of the services which the Bank can render in relation to the development of the region. - ·' . ·, · · ' Managelllent of affairs of Bank'· ' : 5. (1) Subject to the pro~isions of this Ad-:- . · . '(a) the shareholders shall exercise the _overall authority but may delegate to the . board all their powers, except the power to-: - ." (i) issue or transfer shares; - 1 , · (b) ( c) (ii) appoint directors, as provided in section 7; and. (iii) approve the payment of dividends; _ _ the board shall control the business of the Biink and shall direct the operations of the Bank and may exercise all such powers of the Bank as are not in terms of this Act required to be exercised by the shareholders of the Bank at a 35 meeting of shareholders; and the chief executive officer shalt' be the executive officer and legal representa tive of the Bank and shall be responsible for the management of the operations of the Bank. · - _ _ _ _ _ · · . , .. ' _- (2) The powers of the board may be delegated to the chief executive officer who in ,, 40 tum may delegate such powers to the staff, committees or other structures of the Bank. - Shareholder meetings . . : 6. (1) A shareholder shall have the right to attend a me~ting of the shareholders, or to appoint a representative to attend such a meeting in the place of that shareholder. (2)A shareholder shall have such number of votes with regard to any matter as may 45 _ . be determined in the regulations: , _ · · - - (3) While the Government of the Republic is the sole shareholder of shares in the Bank any resolution signed by the representative of the Government shall be deemed to be a resolution taken at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders. I ; ' · ; 25 30 8 No. 17962 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25 APRIL 1997 Act No. 13, 1997 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTIIERN AFRICA ACT, 1997 Board of directors . 7. (1) The Board of Directors of the Bank shall consist of not fewer than ten and not more than fifteen directors: Provided that if at any time the number of directors holding office at any time falls below ten, the remaining directors shall manage the affairs of the Bank, until the vacancy or vacancies can be.filled by the appointments by the Minister 5 or the relevant shareholders, as the case may be. · . (2) The directors .. of the Bank shall be appointed, in the manner determined in the regulations, by.the Minister and the shareholders, as follows:. .·· , . ' ' (a) The Minister shall be entitled to appoint the same proportion of the total -. number of directors as the number of shares held by the Government bears to 10 ' . the total number of shares issued; and . ' (b) the institutional or other shareholders shall be entitled to appoint the · remaining 'number of directors, each iri proportion to its holding in shares. (3) Directors shall be appointed on the grounds of their ability and experience in relation to socio-economic devefopment, d~velopment finance, business, finance, 15 banking and administration. · . (4) The chief executive officer, any executive manager or member of the staff of the · · · Banlc may be appointed as a director. · · (5) The board shall, with the consent of the shareholders, elect one of its number as the chairperson of the board. The person so elected shall act as chairperson for as long as the 20 board detennines. · (6) No decision or act of the board, or act performed under the authority of the board, shall be invalid by reason only of. the fact that a person who participated in the proceedings at the meetings in question was elected as a director by the institutional shareholders without the provisions of the regulations having been observed. 25 Disqualification or directors . - 8 Verify source ↗
No person shall be a rurector of the board if he or .she-
AI-assisted research summary: This section bars disqualified people and certain public office-holders from serving as directors, sets board and meeting rules, governs CEO appointment and acting appointments, and regulates share capital and large share transfers by institutional shareholders.
8. No person shall be a rurector of the board if he or .she- , (a) is disqualified to act as a director of a board of a company incorporated in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973); . (b) is a member of any legislature or of an executive council in the Republic, or 30 of a similar governmental institution in the region. Tenure and conditions or office or directors reappointment. 9. (1) A director shall bold office for a perlod of three years; but shall be' eligible for _ , (2) A director shall receive such service benefits;. including the reimbursement of 35 . . . · · · · · expenses in connection with travelling and subsistence, as may be prescribed by regulation. . . " ' ' ' .. . ' ' Committees or board · 10. (1) The board may establish such committees, consisting of directors, as it deems advisable. · . · (2) The board shall determine the functions of the committees and the procedure to be followed when the chairpersons of such committees are elected. . · by such committee. (3) Any person with expert knowledge of a function of a committee may be co-opted Meetings . ~. 40 45 board meeting, the chairperson, shall preside at the meeting in question. 11. (1) (a) The Minister, in the case of a shareholders' meeting, and, in the case of a , .. • (b) In the case of a board meeting, and provided a quorum is present, the members present may elect an acting chairperson to preside at that meeting, if the chairperson is not present. The acting chaiq)erson shall at such meeting have all the powers and cany 50 out all the duties of the chairperson. . . (2) The Minister and the chairperson shall in the event of an equality of votes have a . casting vote. , · · · ·· . . . . , · · . · · . 10 No. 17962 GOVERNMENT GAZETI'E; 25APRIL1997 Act No. 13, 1997 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTIIERN AFRICA ACT, 1997 (3) The quorum for a meeting of shareholders shall be a majority of the shareholders, and the quorum for a meeting of the board shall be five directors. (4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the decision of- · ·. ~ : (a) a majority of the shareholders shall be the decision of the shareholders; and the majority of the directors present at a meeting of the board shall be the (b) , decision of the board.· · · · 5 .. ' , (5) The meetings referred to in this section shall be held and the business thereat shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. · Chief executive officer # . ~· • t 12. (l) The: appointment of the cbie~ ~xecutiv·e officer shall be' ~ade by the 10 . . · · · . . . __ . . . . . shareholders, unless the authority to appoint the chief executive officer has been delegated to the board. (2) If for any reason the chief executive officer is unable to act as chief executive officer for a period longer than two months, the board' may appoint an acting' chief ·' executive officer to act during such inability, and th<( person so appointed shall, while so 15 acting, have all the powers and shall carry out all the duties of the chief executive ~fficer. (3) If the chief executive officer has resigned, died or has been permanently disabled and is unable to act as such, the board shall appoint an acting chief executive officer to act as chief executive· officer until the successor assumes office, and the person who has , . been so appointed· shall, while' so acting, have all the powers and shall carry out all the 20 duties of the chief executive officer. Share capital. .I • • 13. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection'(5), the authorised share capital of the Bank shall be the amount of five thousand million rand which shall be divided into five hundred thousand ordinary shares having a par value of ten thousand rand each. 25 (2) Share certificates in respect of twenty thousand of the shares referred to in subsection (1) shall be issued to 'the Govemnient' of the Republic of South Africa as consideration for prud.:up share capital to an amount of R200,000,000 in DBSA (1983) . and the certificates so issued shall replace any certificate previously issued in respect of the shares iri DBSA (1983). ' (3) The shareholders shall subscribe to the balance of the. authorised share capital · . · 30 when requested to do so by the board as provided in the regulations. . . (4) The issued shares may be transferred by the Government of the Republic fo any institutional shareholder'. . . . . (5) The board may from time to time, with the approval of the shareholders previously 35 given at a meeting of shareholders, increase the share capital of the Bank to such extent as it may deem expedient, by the· creation and issue of ordinary or preference shares, or shares of such other class as it may determine, which shares may be issued upon such terms and conditions as the board may determine, including conditions as to the voting rights which may be exercised by the holders thereof, in the case of preference shares, 40 or that the holders thereof shall not be entitled to vote. . _ . ( 6) An institutional shareholder shall not pledge or encumber any of the Bank's shares held by it if the aggregate of the shares so pledged or encumbered exceeds five per cent ·of the Bank's issued share capital. . Bank to any other person if the aggregate of the shares which are transferred to such · · other person exceeds five per cent of the Bank's issued share capital. . (7) An institutional shareholder shall not transfer or assign any of its shares in the 45 · · .. · ' '· · _ · ' · · · · · · . Expenditure ' 14. Exp~ndihrre incilrred by or on behalfof the board; includirig' any amount ~whig in respect of the remuneration of the directors and personnel of the B3nk, shall be defrayed 50 from the funds of the Bank. · 12 No. 17962 GOVERNMENT GAZETIE, 25 APRIL 1997 Act No: 13, 1997 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOlITHERN AFRICA ACT, 1997 Dividends - 15 Verify source ↗
The declaration of dividends shall be. authorised by the board and shall be
AI-assisted research summary: Dividends must be authorised by the board and approved by shareholders; the board must keep proper books and records and publish an annual report.
15. The declaration of dividends shall be. authorised by the board and shall be approved by the shareholders. . Accounts and audit 16. (1) The board shall cause proper books. of account to be kept, and shall also cause 5 to be kept all necessary books and records ill relation thereto. · · . · (2) An annual report on the financial status and the achievement of 'the 'objects of the Bank shall be published by the board. (3) The books of account of the Bank shall be audited by a persori registered in terms of section 15 of the Public Accountants'. and Auditors' Act, 1991 (Act No. 80of1991). 10 Regulations · ' .,. - 17 Verify source ↗
The Minister may at the request of the shareholders or the board make regulations
AI-assisted research summary: The Minister may make regulations if requested by the shareholders or the board.
17. The Minister may at the request of the shareholders or the board make regulations asto- ·. the'election of direetors; (a) (b) i:~e conditions of appointment of directors and the circumstances in which a 15 director shall vacate the office of director; ·.· ( c) · meetings of the board and the procedure thereat, including the minutes to be . ( e) (d) · ' kept of such meetings; the taking of decisions by shareholders and directors without holding a ~~ the meetings of shareholders, the matters to be dealt with and the procedures to be followed thereat, including the minutes to be kept thereof; . the annual submission of a balance sheet and accounts to a meeting of shareholders; the appointment of officers of the Bank; (g) the determination of the national territories which constitute the region; and · (h) (i). such other matters as are necessary or useful to be prescribed for the (fJ w 25 achievement of the objectives of this Act. Transitional arrangements - 18 Verify source ↗
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 7-
AI-assisted research summary: Shareholders must hold a meeting within six months after the effective date to appoint a new board of directors. Directors who are not reappointed must cease office, subject to reappointment at that meeting.
18. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 7- 30 (a) the shareholders of the Bank shall not later than six months after the effective date hold a meeting for the purpose of appointing a new board of directors of the Bank; · ·- · · (b) unless a director is reappointed at the meeting referred to in paragraph (a), every directorofDBSA(l983) shall cease to hold his or her office six months 35 after the effective date or upon the appointment of a successor at that meeting, whichever occurs earlier, . . and the provisions of section 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the convening and co~duct of that meeting of shareholders and the appointment o~ directors at that meeting. Winding up or Bank 40 - 19 Verify source ↗
The Bank shall riot be.wound up except in terms. ~fan Act o~Parliament.
AI-assisted research summary: The Bank may not be wound up unless an Act of Parliament allows it.
19. The Bank shall riot be.wound up except in terms. ~fan Act o~Parliament. Use.of name of Bank · - 20 Verify source ↗
No perso~. association, cor-Poration or other statutory body or company shallcarry
AI-assisted research summary: Certain bodies and companies must not carry on business or register under an Act of Parliament using a name identical or deceptively similar to the Bank’s name.
20. No perso~. association, cor-Poration or other statutory body or company shallcarry on business or be registered under an Act of Parliament, with a name identical to that of the Bank, or so nearly resembling the name of the Bank as to deceive. · 45 Application to Bank of Companies Act, 1973, and Banks Act, 1990 21. (l) (a) The Bank shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), be exempt from the provisions of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973). , 1 . • .' > I ' < • • " 14 No. 17962 Act No.'13, 1997. GOVERNMENT GAZETIE, 25 APRIL 1997 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SOUTIIERN AFRICA ACT, 1997 ( b) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette apply any provision of the Companies Act, 1973, the Banks Act, 1990, or such other law to the Bank, in so far as such provision is not inconsistent with the provisions of this · Act, with such modifications as the Minister may deem fit and may specify in that notice, and inay withdraw or amend any such notice. 5 Short title .22. This Act shall be called'the o'evelopment.Bank of So_utherri Africa Act! 1997.
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