The Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (revoked)

Registration of joint stock company as public companyF4 N.I.

634.—(1) A joint stock company applying to be registered under Article 629 as a company limited by shares may, subject to—

(a) satisfying the conditions set out in Article 54(2)(a) and (b) (where applicable) and Article 55(2) to (4) as applied by this Article, and

(b) complying with paragraph (4),

apply to be so registered as a public company.

(2) Articles 54 and 55 apply for this purpose as in the case of a private company applying to be re-registered under Article 53, but as if a reference to the special resolution required by Article 53 were to the joint stock company's resolution that it be a public company.

(3) The resolution may change the company's name by deleting the word “company” or the words “and company”, including any abbreviation of them.

(4) The joint stock company's application shall be made in the form prescribed for the purpose, and shall be delivered to the registrar together with the following documents (as well as those required by Article 633), namely—

(a) a copy of the resolution that the company be a public company,

(b) a copy of a written statement by an accountant with the appropriate qualifications that in his opinion a relevant balance sheet shows that at the balance sheet date the amount of the company's net assets was not less than the aggregate of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves,

(c) a copy of the relevant balance sheet, together with a copy of an unqualified report (by an accountant with such qualifications) in relation to that balance sheet,

(d) a copy of any valuation report prepared under Article 54(2)(b) as applied by this Article, and

(e) [F1 subject to paragraph (4A),] a statutory declaration in the prescribed form by a director or secretary of the company—

(i) that the conditions set out in Article 54(2)(a) and (b) (where applicable) and Article 55(2) to (4) have been satisfied, and

(ii) that, between the balance sheet date referred to in sub-paragraph (b) and the joint stock company's application, there has been no change in the company's financial position that has resulted in the amount of its net assets becoming less than the aggregate of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves.

[F1 (4A) In place of the statutory declaration referred to in sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph (4), there may be delivered to the registrar using electronic communications a statement made by a director or secretary of the company as to the matters set out in heads (i) and (ii) of that sub-paragraph.]

(5) The registrar may accept a declaration under paragraph (4)(e)[F1 or statement under paragraph (4A)] as sufficient evidence that the conditions referred to in that paragraph have been satisfied.

(6) In this Article—

• “accountant with the appropriate qualifications” means[F2 a person who would be eligible] for appointment as the company's auditor, if it were a company registered under this Order,

• “relevant balance sheet” means a balance sheet prepared as at a date not more than 7 months before the joint stock company's application to be registered as a public company limited by shares, and

• “undistributable reserves” has the meaning gives by [F3 section 831(4) of the Companies Act 2006];

• and Article 56 applies (with the necessary modifications) for the interpretation of the reference in paragraph (4)(c) to an unqualified report by the accountant.

[F1 (7) Any person who makes a false statement under paragraph (4A) which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.]

F1 SR 2003/3

F2 SR 1993/67

F3 Words in art. 634(6) in definition of "undistributable reserves" substituted (6.4.2008) by Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 2(2), 3(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 142 (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F4 Order repealed (prosp.) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1284(2), 1295, 1300(2), Sch. 16 and the repeal being partly in force, as to which see individual Articles (with savings (with adaptations) by Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 6, Saving and Commencement Nos. 3 and 5 (Amendment)) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/674), arts. 2(3), {4}, Sch. 2) and subject to amendments (6.4.2008) by Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), arts. 2(2), 3(1)(b)(2), Sch. 1 paras. 135, 147, 148 {Sch. 2 Note 1} (with arts. 6, 11, 12) and subject to amendments (6.4.2008) by S.R. 2008/133, {regs. 2, 3}