The Company Director's Handbook

South African legislation and corporate governance guidelines place huge duties and responsibilities on all company directors. Breaching these duties has onerous consequences. This handbook sets out, concisely and authoritatively, what every company director needs to know concerning compliance. Whether you are an experienced director of a company, or you have been invited for the first time to become a director, this book will be a helpful, constant source of ready reference.

Special Features

Written by specialists especially commissioned by Ernst and Young, this book has been written primarily for directors, most of whom are not lawyers. It is succinct and comprises checklists of company directors’ duties and responsibilities in various practical situations.

This is a ready reference, practical handbook for regular referral by company directors needing a quick answer to day-to-day queries regarding their duties and responsibilities as directors.

Endorsements

“It is…imperative that directors and prospective directors in South Africa…have access to a manual of information and guidelines formulated in a clear, concise and easily usable manner. This is precisely what Ernst & Young’s Handbook does. This Handbook will in a focused and practical manner assist directors in understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities.”

Michael Katz, Chairman of the Katz Commission on Tax Reform, and Honorary Professor of Law, University of the Witwatersrand.

Table of Contents

Part I
Chapter 1 The Current Corporate Environment
Chapter 2 The Legal Framework
Chapter 3 Directors’ Appointment and Qualifications
Chapter 4 Advice to a New Director
Chapter 5 Directors’ Duties
Chapter 6 Key Issues Facing Directors
Chapter 7 Board Effectiveness
Chapter 8 Basic Meeting Procedure
Chapter 9 Corporate Governance and Citizenship
Chapter 10 Corporate Failure

Part II
Chapter 11 Listing Requirements of the JSE Securities Exchange
Chapter 12 Duties of Directors of Banks
Chapter 13 The Public Sector

Appendices
A Legislation to be noted by Directors
B Comparison of the Four Main Types of Business Entity
C Offences under the Companies Act
D Directors’ Induction Pack
E Director’s Disclosure of Interests Questionnaire
F Directors’ Duties in terms of the Companies Act
G Statutory Matters that require Special Resolution under the Companies Act
H Duties and Responsibilities of a Director as Public Officer
I Statutory Forms used in Company Secretarial Administration

Index