Can one company own 100% of another company in South Africa?

Yes. The company that owns the shares is the holding company and the company whose shares it owns is the subsidiary. The subsidiary may retain the same director.

How much does a share transfer to a holding company cost?

ProperSA charges R1,950 for a straightforward transfer from an individual to a South African Pty Ltd holding company. This covers the transfer documents, resolutions, company-record updates and beneficial-ownership preparation. Extra work is quoted before it starts.

Does CIPC keep a record of a private company's shareholders?

CIPC does not keep the private company's shareholder register. The company must maintain its own securities register and must keep its beneficial-ownership information current with CIPC.

Will the director need to change?

No. Ownership and directorship are separate. The existing director can remain in place unless the company decides to change the board.

Move a company under a holding company

If you own a Pty Ltd personally and want another Pty Ltd to own it, the shares need to move from you to the holding company. We prepare the transfer, update the company’s records and map the ownership trail that CIPC needs.

R1,950fixed price for a straightforward share transfer to a South African Pty Ltd holding company

What this service does

Checks the two companies’ basic records. We confirm the company details, current shareholder and share allocation before documents are prepared.
Prepares the share-transfer documents and resolutions. The director transfers the shares to the holding company, and both companies approve the transaction in writing.
Updates the subsidiary’s securities register. The holding company is recorded as the shareholder and the previous certificate is cancelled and replaced where applicable.
Prepares the beneficial-ownership record. The structure is traced through the holding company to the natural person or people who ultimately own or control it.
Delivers a completed company-record pack. You receive the signed documents and the record you need to keep with the company.

The result

The holding company owns the shares in the operating company. The operating company becomes its subsidiary. A director does not automatically change when the shares move, so the same person can remain director of both companies if that is the intended structure.

CIPC does not keep a private company’s shareholder register. The company must keep its own securities register, while its beneficial-ownership information must be kept current with CIPC. That is why the paperwork matters even where no director or company name is changing.

What we need from you

The registration numbers and current CIPC documents for both companies.
The director’s certified ID copy and contact details.
Confirmation that the director currently holds 100% of the subsidiary’s shares.
The current share certificate or securities register, if available.
Confirmation that no director changes are required.

Clear scope before you pay

The R1,950 price is for one South African holding company, one South African subsidiary and a single director transferring 100% of the shares. We check the documents first and confirm the scope in writing.

It excludes overdue annual returns and penalties, changes to a custom MOI, disputes between shareholders, company valuations, and tax or legal advice. If the transaction needs any of those, we explain the additional work and quote it before proceeding.

Start my share transfer

Unsure whether this is the right structure? Ask us first and you get a written answer within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

Can one company own 100% of another company?

Yes. The company that holds the shares is the holding company; the company it owns is the subsidiary. The subsidiary can continue trading under its existing registration number.

Does the director need to change?

No. Shares are ownership and directorship is management. The same director can remain in both companies if there is no decision to change the board.

Does CIPC charge a separate share-transfer fee?

A straightforward private-company share transfer is primarily a company-record transaction. We confirm any CIPC or compliance action required for your specific records before proceeding. CIPC and third-party fees outside the stated scope are always shown separately.

Can you do this if annual returns are overdue?

Usually yes, but the outstanding returns and any CIPC fees or penalties must be dealt with separately. We check this first so there are no surprise costs.