Companies (Consolidation) Act 1908

Official Receiver.

146 Definition of official receiver.

(1) For the purposes of this Act so far as it relates to the winding up of companies by the court in England, the term “official receiver ” shall mean the official receiver, if any, attached to the court for bankruptcy purposes, or, if there is more than one such official receiver, then such one of them as the Board of Trade may appoint, or, if there is no such official receiver, then an officer appointed for the purpose by the Board of Trade.

(2) Any such officer shall for the purpose of his duties under this Act be styled the official receiver.

147 Statement of company's affairs to be submitted to official receiver.

(1) Where the court in England has made a winding-up order, there shall be made out and submitted to the official receiver a statement as to the affairs of the company in the prescribed form, verified by affidavit, and showing the particulars of its assets, debts, and liabilities, the names, residences, and occupations of its creditors, the securities held by them respectively, the dates when the securities were respectively given, and such further or other information as may be prescribed or as the official receiver may require.

(2) The statement shall be submitted and verified by one or more of the persons who are at the time of the winding-tip order the directors and by the person who is at that time the secretary or other chief officer of the company, or by such of the persons being or having been directors or officers of the company, or having taken part in the formation of the company at any time within one year before the winding-up order, as the official receiver, subject to the direction of the court, may require to submit and verify the same.

(3) The statement shall be submitted within fourteen days from the date of the order, or within such extended time as the official receiver or the court may for special reasons appoint.

(4) Any person making or concurring in making the statement and affidavit required by this section shall be allowed, and shall be paid by the official receiver, out of the assets of the company, such costs and expenses incurred in and about the preparation and making of the statement and affidavit as the official receiver may consider reasonable, subject to an appeal to the court.

(5) If any person, without reasonable excuse, makes default in complying with the requirements of this section, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten jwunds for every day during which the default continues.

(6) Any person stating himself in writing to be a creditor or contributory of the company shall be entitled by himself or by his agent at all reasonable times, on payment of the prescribed fee, to inspect the statement submitted in pursuance of this section, and to a copy .thereof or extract therefrom. But any person untruthfully so stating himself to be a creditor or contributory shall be guilty of a contempt of court and shall be punishable accordingly on the application of the liquidator or of the official receiver.

148 Report by official receiver.

(1) Where the court in England has made a winding-up order, the official receiver shall, as soon as practicable after receipt of the statement of the company's affairs, submit a preliminary report to the court—

(a) as to the amount of capital issued, subscribed, and paid up, and the estimated amount of assets and liabilities; and

(b) if the company has failed, as to the causes of the failure ; and

(c) whether in his opinion further inquiry is desirable as to any matter relating to the promotion, formation, or failure of the company, or the conduct of the business thereof.

(2) The official receiver may also, if he thinks fit, make a further report, or further reports, stating the manner in which the company was formed and whether in his opinion any fraud has been committed by any person in its promotion or formation, or by any director or other officer of the company in relation to the company since the formation thereof, and any other matters which in his opinion it is desirable to bring to the notice of the court.