The Companies Act No. 17 of 2015

Section 442 of The Companies Act No. 17 of 2015: Assistance for acquisition of shares in public company

(1) If a person is acquiring or proposing to acquire shares in a public company, neither the company nor any other company that is a subsidiary of the company may give financial assistance (directly or indirectly) for the purpose of the acquisition before or at the same time as the acquisition takes place.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in it or its holding company if—
(a) the company's principal purpose in giving the assistance is not for the purpose of the acquisition; or
(b) giving assistance for that purpose is only incidental to achieving some larger purpose of the company; and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests company.
(3) If—
(a) a person has acquired shares in a company; and
(b) the person or another person has incurred a liability for the purpose of the acquisition;
neither the company nor any other company that is a subsidiary of the company may give financial assistance, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of reducing or discharging the liability if, at the time the assistance is given, the company in which the shares were acquired is a public company.
(4) Subsection (3) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance if—
(a) the company's principal purpose in giving the assistance is not to reduce or discharge any liability incurred by a person for the purpose of the acquisition of shares in the company or its holding company; or
(b) the reduction or discharge of any such liability is only incidental to achieving some larger purpose of the company, and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests of the company.
(5) This section has effect subject to sections 445 and 446.

Check the current authoritative text and amendment history before relying on this provision.

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