Q.What is a Memorandum of Association (the company's founding/installation document)?

The Memorandum of Association (MOA) is a company's most important document. It defines the company's objectives and governs its relationship with the outside world — no company can legally undertake any activity not contained in its Memorandum. It is subordinate only to the Companies Act itself.

The Memorandum contains five main clauses:

• Name clause — states the company's name, already approved by the Registrar.
• Registered office clause — names the state where the registered office will be; the exact address must be notified within thirty days of incorporation.
• Objects clause — probably the most important; it defines the purpose for which the company is formed. The company cannot lawfully act beyond these objects. …