Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986

[F1 Disqualification for competition infringements E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 9A-9E and cross-heading inserted (20.6.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 204(2), 279; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2, Sch.

9A Competition disqualification order E+W+S

(1) The court must make a disqualification order against a person if the following two conditions are satisfied in relation to him.

(2) The first condition is that an undertaking which is a company of which he is a director commits a breach of competition law.

(3) The second condition is that the court considers that his conduct as a director makes him unfit to be concerned in the management of a company.

(4) An undertaking commits a breach of competition law if it engages in conduct which infringes [F2 either of the following]—

(a) the Chapter 1 prohibition (within the meaning of the Competition Act 1998) (prohibition on agreements, etc. preventing, restricting or distorting competition);

(b) the Chapter 2 prohibition (within the meaning of that Act) (prohibition on abuse of a dominant position);

F3 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) For the purpose of deciding under subsection (3) whether a person is unfit to be concerned in the management of a company the court—

(a) must have regard to whether subsection (6) applies to him;

(b) may have regard to his conduct as a director of a company in connection with any other breach of competition law;

(c) must not have regard to the matters mentioned in Schedule 1.

(6) This subsection applies to a person if as a director of the company—

(a) his conduct contributed to the breach of competition law mentioned in subsection (2);

(b) his conduct did not contribute to the breach but he had reasonable grounds to suspect that the conduct of the undertaking constituted the breach and he took no steps to prevent it;

(c) he did not know but ought to have known that the conduct of the undertaking constituted the breach.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6)(a) it is immaterial whether the person knew that the conduct of the undertaking constituted the breach.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (4)(a) F5 ... references to the conduct of an undertaking are references to its conduct taken with the conduct of one or more other undertakings.

(9) The maximum period of disqualification under this section is 15 years.

(10) An application under this section for a disqualification order may be made by the [F6 Competition and Markets Authority] or by a specified regulator.

(11) [F7 Section 60A of the Competition Act 1998 (certain principles etc to be considered or applied from IP completion day)] applies in relation to any question arising by virtue of subsection (4)(a) or (b) above as it applies in relation to any question arising under Part 1 of that Act.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 9A(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(2)(a) (with Sch. 4 para. 36) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 S. 9A(4)(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b) (with Sch. 4 para. 36) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 S. 9A(4)(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b) (with Sch. 4 para. 36) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Words in s. 9A(8) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(3) (with Sch. 4 para. 36) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in s. 9A(10) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 53(b) (with art. 3)

F7 Words in s. 9A(11) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(4) (as amended by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1343), regs. 1(1), 13); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-10 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)

9B Competition undertakings E+W+S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) the [F8 Competition and Markets Authority] or a specified regulator thinks that in relation to any person an undertaking which is a company of which he is a director has committed or is committing a breach of competition law,

(b) the [F8 Competition and Markets Authority] or the specified regulator thinks that the conduct of the person as a director makes him unfit to be concerned in the management of a company, and

(c) the person offers to give the [F8 Competition and Markets Authority] or the specified regulator (as the case may be) a disqualification undertaking.

(2) The [F8 Competition and Markets Authority] or the specified regulator (as the case may be) may accept a disqualification undertaking from the person instead of applying for or proceeding with an application for a disqualification order.

(3) A disqualification undertaking is an undertaking by a person that for the period specified in the undertaking he will not—

(a) be a director of a company;

(b) act as receiver of a company’s property;

(c) in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the promotion, formation or management of a company;

(d) act as an insolvency practitioner.

(4) But a disqualification undertaking may provide that a prohibition falling within subsection (3)(a) to (c) does not apply if the person obtains the leave of the court.

(5) The maximum period which may be specified in a disqualification undertaking is 15 years.

(6) If a disqualification undertaking is accepted from a person who is already subject to a disqualification undertaking under this Act or to a disqualification order the periods specified in those undertakings or the undertaking and the order (as the case may be) run concurrently.

(7) Subsections (4) to (8) of section 9A apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section but in the application of subsection (5) of that section the reference to the court must be construed as a reference to the [F9 Competition and Markets Authority] or a specified regulator (as the case may be).

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 9B(1)(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 53(c) (with art. 3)

F9 Words in s. 9B(7) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 53(c) (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-10 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)

9C Competition investigations E+W+S

(1) If the [F10 Competition and Markets Authority] or a specified regulator has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a breach of competition law has occurred it or he (as the case may be) may carry out an investigation for the purpose of deciding whether to make an application under section 9A for a disqualification order.

(2) For the purposes of such an investigation sections 26 to 30 of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) apply to the [F10 Competition and Markets Authority] and the specified regulators as they apply to the [F10 Competition and Markets Authority] for the purposes of an investigation under section 25 of that Act.

(3) Subsection (4) applies if as a result of an investigation under this section the [F10 Competition and Markets Authority] or a specified regulator proposes to apply under section 9A for a disqualification order.

(4) Before making the application the [F10 Competition and Markets Authority] or regulator (as the case may be) must—

(a) give notice to the person likely to be affected by the application, and

(b) give that person an opportunity to make representations.

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in s. 9C(1)-(4) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 53(d) (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-10 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)

9D Co-ordination E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations for the purpose of co-ordinating the performance of functions under sections 9A to 9C (relevant functions) which are exercisable concurrently by two or more persons.

(2) Section 54(5) to (7) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) applies to regulations made under this section as it applies to regulations made under that section and for that purpose in that section—

(a) references to Part 1 functions must be read as references to relevant functions;

(b) references to a regulator must be read as references to a specified regulator;

[F11 (ba) the reference in subsection (6A)(b) to notice under section 31(1) of the Competition Act 1998 that the regulator proposes to make a decision within the meaning given by section 31(2) of that Act is to be read as notice under section 9C(4) that the specified regulator proposes to apply under section 9A for a disqualification order;]

(c) a competent person also includes any of the specified regulators.

(3) The power to make regulations under this section must be exercised by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4) Such a statutory instrument may—

(a) contain such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate;

(b) make different provision for different cases.

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 9D(2)(ba) inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 54 (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-10 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)

9E Interpretation E+W+S

(1) This section applies for the purposes of sections 9A to 9D.

(2) Each of the following is a specified regulator for the purposes of a breach of competition law in relation to a matter in respect of which he or it has a function—

[F12 (a) the Office of Communications;]

(b) the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;

[F13 (c) the Water Services Regulation Authority;]

(d) [F14 Office of Rail and Road];

(e) the Civil Aviation Authority;

F15 (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F16 (g) the Payment Systems Regulator established under section 40 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013.]

[F17 (h) the Financial Conduct Authority.]

(3) The court is the High Court or (in Scotland) the Court of Session.

(4) Conduct includes omission.

(5) Director includes shadow director.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 9E(2)(a) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(1), 411(2), Sch. 17 para. 83 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

F13 S. 9E(2)(c) substituted (1.4.2006) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 7 para. 25; S.I. 2005/2714, art. 4(f) (with Sch. para. 8)

F14 Words in s. 9E(2)(d) substituted (16.10.2015) by The Office of Rail Regulation (Change of Name) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1682), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4(h)

F15 S. 9E(2)(f) omitted (1.7.2022) by virtue of Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 12 para. 1; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

F16 S. 9E(2)(g) inserted (1.4.2015) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), ss. 67(1), 148(5); S.I. 2014/2458, art. 3(b)(iii)

F17 S. 9E(2)(h) inserted (1.4.2015) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 8 para. 8; S.I. 2014/2458, art. 3(b)(v)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-10 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)