(1)Where a person is acquiring or proposing to acquire shares in a public company, it is not lawful for that company, or a company that is a subsidiary of that company, to give financial assistance directly or indirectly for the purpose of the acquisition before or at the same time as the acquisition takes place.
(2)Subsection (1) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in it or its holding company if—
(a)the company’s principal purpose in giving the assistance is not to give it for the purpose of any such acquisition, or
(b)the giving of the assistance for that purpose is only an incidental part of some larger purpose of the company,
and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests of the company.
(3)Where—
(a)a person has acquired shares in a company, and
(b)a liability has been incurred (by that or another person) for the purpose of the acquisition,
it is not lawful for that company, or a company that is a subsidiary of that company, to give financial assistance directly or indirectly for the purpose of reducing or discharging the liability if, at the time the assistance is given, the company in which the shares were acquired is a public company.
(4)Subsection (3) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance if—
(a)the company’s principal purpose in giving the assistance is not to reduce or discharge any liability incurred by a person for the purpose of the acquisition of shares in the company or its holding company, or
(b)the reduction or discharge of any such liability is only an incidental part of some larger purpose of the company,
and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests of the company.
(5)This section has effect subject to sections 681 and 682 (unconditional and conditional exceptions to prohibition).