Some 20 local businesses have been put on notice and warned that they might be facing deregistration and removal from the Samoa Companies Register. 

A new Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) circular has been issued to the companies , warning them that their business licences are in danger of lapsing. 

Four companies have been identified as potentially no longer carrying on business; another 16 companies have been hit with warnings about their failure to file annual returns. 

The notice is signed by the Chief Executive Officer of M.C.I.L., Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, who is also the Registrar of Companies.

According to the notice, the following companies will be removed from the Samoa Register of Companies, pursuant to section 124 & 260 (a) of the Companies Act 2001 (“the Act”) as the company fails to file annual return or is no longer carrying on business and there is no other reason for the company to continue in existence.

The Ministry also clarified that the following companies will be removed from the Register after 20 working days from the date of the notice unless the Company satisfies the Registrar by notice in writing that it is still carrying on business or there is either reason for it to continue in existence.

“Any person, who wishes to object to the removal of these companies, must file his or her objection with the Registrar of Companies by the 27th January 2022,” read the notice. 

The Ministry also advised that should any further clarification be required, please contact the Registries of Companies and Intellectual Properties Division, M.C.I.L., level 3 of the ACC Building.

According to the Ministry’s Annual Report Samoan 2016-2017 there were 32 companies deregistered in that financial year.   

Last year a total of 256 companies were warned through public notices to comply with statutory requirements or be removed.

The local companies that have been warned of deregistration include: Mana Industries Limited; Strickland Brothers Limited; Pacific Forum Line Limited; Supreme Ice Cream & Co Limited; Waste Management Co Ltd; Telbac Engineering Ltd; Rural Building & Construction Services Ltd; Blackland and Engineering Co,. Ltd; J-Way, Ltd; J-Way (Pacific) Ltd; S Pau & Son Limited; Samoa Coconut Cluster Ltd, Samoagem Media Ltd; Brother Company Ltd; Phil.Samoa Company Ltd; Coconut Construction Ltd; Tautua Nonu Samoa Ltd; Lmfae Ltd; Manumalo Limited; and Pacific IT Solutions Ltd.