Companies Act 1985

272 Requirements for interim accounts. E+W+S

(1) The following are the statutory requirements in respect of interim accounts prepared for a proposed distribution by a public company.

(2) The accounts must have been properly prepared, or have been so prepared subject only to matters which are not material for determining, by reference to items mentioned in section 270(2), whether the proposed distribution would contravene the relevant section.

(3) “Properly prepared” means that the accounts must comply with [F1 section 226] (applying that section [F2 and sections 226A and 226B] and Schedule 4 with such modifications as are necessary because the accounts are prepared otherwise than in respect of an accounting reference period) and any balance sheet comprised in the accounts must have been signed in accordance with [F3 section 233]; and, without prejudice to the foregoing—

(a) so much of the accounts as consists of a balance sheet must give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs as at the balance sheet date, and

(b) so much of the accounts as consists of a profit and loss account must give a true and fair view of the company’s profit or loss for the period in respect of which the accounts were prepared.

(4) A copy of the accounts must have been delivered to the registrar of companies.

(5) If the accounts are in a language other than English and [F4 the second sentence of section 242(1)] (translation) does not apply,F5 . . . a translation into English of the accounts, certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct translation, must also have been delivered to the registrar.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 23, 213(2), Sch. 10 para. 5(a) (subject to the saving and transitional provisions in S.I. 1990/355, arts. 6–9, Sch. 3 para. 1)

F2 Words in s. 272(3) inserted (12.11.2004 with effect as mentioned in reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Companies Act 1985 (International Accounting Standards and Other Accounting Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2947), reg. 3, Sch. 1 para. 27

F3 Words substituted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 23, 213(2), Sch. 10 para. 5(b) (subject to the saving and transitional provisions in S.I. 1990/355, arts. 6–9, Sch. 3 para. 1)

F4 Words substituted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 23, 213(2), Sch. 10 para. 6 (subject to the saving and transitional provisions in S.I. 1990/355, arts. 6–9, Sch. 3 para. 1)

F5 Words in s. 272(5) repealed (1.1.2007) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1295, 1300, Sch. 16; S.I. 2006/3428, art. 7(a), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 (with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5 (as amended by S.I. 2007/3495, art. 11, Sch. 5))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 270-276 modified (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 39, 198(2), Sch. 6 para. 7 (with s. 38(2), Sch. 6 para. 8); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

C2 S. 272 modified by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 83(4), Sch. 5 para. 9(1)

C3 S. 272 modified by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(3), Sch. 17 paras. 35(1), 39(1)

C4 Ss. 270 - 276 applied (with modifications) (27. 12. 1991) by S.I. 1991/2908, art. 2, Sch. para. 7(1)

Ss. 270-276 applied (with modifications) (24.11.1995) by 1995/3023, art. 7(1)(2)

C5 Ss. 270 - 276 modified (6. 1. 1992) by British Technology Group Act 1991 (c. 66, SIF 64), s. 17(3), Sch. 3 para. 7(1); S.I. 1991/2721, art. 2

Ss. 270-276 modified (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 37, s. 6, Sch. 2 para. 7(1)

Ss. 270 - 276 modified (24.7.1996) by 1996 c. 55, ss. 134, 149(1)(f), Sch. 6 para. 4(1)

C6 Ss. 270-276 applied (prosp.) by Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (c. 25), ss. 6(6), 40