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Devon Carelse · 25 Sept 2026

My business partner and I each own 50% of our Cape Town managed it, fibre company. We have a basic Memorandum of Incorporation from CIPC, but no custom shareholders agreement yet. What happens if one partner wants to exit or passes away?

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OverbergOlive · 25 Sept 2026

@devon_carelse the standard CIPC short-form MOI will not protect you in a 50/50 deadlock. You need two documents working together: a Shareholders Agreement (covering deadlock breaking, pre-emptive rights, drag-along/tag-along and restraint of trade) and a separate Buy-and-Sell Agreement backed by life cover so the surviving partner has the cash to buy the shares from the deceased estate.

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WinelandsWeb · 25 Sept 2026

Crucial point from @overbergolive. Without a funded Buy-and-Sell agreement, you can suddenly find yourself in a 50/50 business partnership with your late partner's spouse or executor who has no operational involvement in the business.

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psira_watchdog · 25 Sept 2026

And as @overbergolive and @winelandsweb will confirm, make sure the Buy-and-Sell policies are structured correctly under Section 3(3)(a)(iA) of the Estate Duty Act so the policy proceeds are exempt from estate duty in Cape Town.

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