Explanatory Notes

Enterprise Act 2002

2002 CHAPTER 40

7 November 2002

Commentary on Sections

Part 8: Enforcement of Certain Consumer Legislation

Enforcement procedure

Section 223: Bodies corporate: orders

559.Where an enforcement order (including an interim enforcement order) is made against a company, conduct by a company owned by that company or by a sister company would not be a breach of the order. This section will give the court wide power to deal with this situation.

560.This section will empower the court, when making an enforcement order or interim enforcement order under sections 217 or 218, respectively, to direct that the order will be binding upon all other members of a group of interconnected bodies corporate of which it is a member (subsection (2)). ‘Interconnected bodies corporate’ and ‘group of interconnected bodies corporate’ are defined by reference to the definition of ‘subsidiary’ in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985 (subsections (3) to (5)).

561.Further, if a body corporate subject to an enforcement order (including an interim enforcement order) becomes a member of a group of interconnected bodies corporate subsequently, or the group is enlarged, the enforcer will be able to apply to the court for a direction that the order be binding on the new members or member.