- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (21/06/2001)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 01/10/1991
Point in time view as at 21/06/2001. This version of this Act contains provisions that are not valid for this point in time.
Companies Act 1989 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
An Act to amend the law relating to company accounts; to make new provision with respect to the persons eligible for appointment as company auditors; to amend the Companies Act 1985 and certain other enactments with respect to investigations and powers to obtain information and to confer new powers exercisable to assist overseas regulatory authorities; to make new provision with respect to the registration of company charges and otherwise to amend the law relating to companies; to amend the Fair Trading Act 1973; to enable provision to be made for the payment of fees in connection with the exercise by the Secretary of State, the Director General of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of their functions under Part V of that Act; to make provision for safeguarding the operation of certain financial markets; to amend the Financial Services Act 1986; to enable provision to be made for the recording and transfer of title to securities without a written instrument; to amend the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, the Company Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985, the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 and the law relating to building societies; and for connected purposes.
[16th November 1989]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Extent Information
E1Act extends to Great Britain, but for exceptions see s. 213.
The provisions of this Part amend Part VII of the M1Companies Act 1985 (accounts and audit) by—
(a)inserting new provisions in place of sections 221 to 262 of that Act, and
(b)amending or replacing Schedules 4 to 10 to that Act and inserting new Schedules.
Commencement Information
I1S. 1 partly in force see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/142, 355, 2569 and 1991/2945, arts. 2, 3
Marginal Citations
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 at the beginning of Chapter I (provisions applying to companies generally)—
(1)Every company shall keep accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and are such as to—
(a)disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the company at that time, and
(b)enable the directors to ensure that any balance sheet and profit and loss account prepared under this Part complies with the requirements of this Act.
(2)The accounting records shall in particular contain—
(a)entries from day to day of all sums of money received and expended by the company, and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place, and
(b)a record of the assets and liabilities of the company.
(3)If the company’s business involves dealing in goods, the accounting records shall contain—
(a)statements of stock held by the company at the end of each financial year of the company,
(b)all statements of stocktakings from which any such statement of stock as is mentioned in paragraph (a) has been or is to be prepared, and
(c)except in the case of goods sold by way of ordinary retail trade, statements of all goods sold and purchased, showing the goods and the buyers and sellers in sufficient detail to enable all these to be identified.
(4)A parent company which has a subsidiary undertaking in relation to which the above requirements do not apply shall take reasonable steps to secure that the undertaking keeps such accounting records as to enable the directors of the parent company to ensure that any balance sheet and profit and loss account prepared under this Part complies with the requirements of this Act.
(5)If a company fails to comply with any provision of this section, every officer of the company who is in default is guilty of an offence unless he shows that he acted honestly and that in the circumstances in which the company’s business was carried on the default was excusable.
(6)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.
(1)A company’s accounting records shall be kept at its registered office or such other place as the directors think fit, and shall at all times be open to inspection by the company’s officers.
(2)If accounting records are kept at a place outside Great Britain, accounts and returns with respect to the business dealt with in the accounting records so kept shall be sent to, and kept at, a place in Great Britain, and shall at all times be open to such inspection.
(3)The accounts and returns to be sent to Great Britain shall be such as to—
(a)disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the business in question at intervals of not more than six months, and
(b)enable the directors to ensure that the company’s balance sheet and profit and loss account comply with the requirements of this Act.
(4)If a company fails to comply with any provision of subsections (1) to (3), every officer of the company who is in default is guilty of an offence, and liable to imprisonment or a fine or both, unless he shows that he acted honestly and that in the circumstances in which the company’s business was carried on the default was excusable.
(5)Accounting records which a company is required by section 221 to keep shall be preserved by it—
(a)in the case of a private company, for three years from the date on which they are made, and
(b)in the case of a public company, for six years from the date on which they are made.
This is subject to any provision contained in rules made under section 411 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (company insolvency rules).
(6)An officer of a company is guilty of an offence, and liable to imprisonment or a fine or both, if he fails to take all reasonable steps for securing compliance by the company with subsection (5) or intentionally causes any default by the company under that subsection.”.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M2Companies Act 1985—
(1)A company’s “financial year” is determined as follows.
(2)Its first financial year begins with the first day of its first accounting reference period and ends with the last day of that period or such other date, not more than seven days before or after the end of that period, as the directors may determine.
(3)Subsequent financial years begin with the day immediately following the end of the company’s previous financial year and end with the last day of its next accounting reference period or such other date, not more than seven days before or after the end of that period, as the directors may determine.
(4)In relation to an undertaking which is not a company, references in this Act to its financial year are to any period in respect of which a profit and loss account of the undertaking is required to be made up (by its constitution or by the law under which it is established), whether that period is a year or not.
(5)The directors of a parent company shall secure that, except where in their opinion there are good reasons against it, the financial year of each of its subsidiary undertakings coincides with the company’s own financial year.
(1)A company’s accounting reference periods are determined according to its accounting reference date.
(2)A company may, at any time before the end of the period of nine months beginning with the date of its incorporation, by notice in the prescribed form given to the registrar specify its accounting reference date, that is, the date on which its accounting reference period ends in each calendar year.
(3)Failing such notice, a company’s accounting reference date is—
(a)in the case of a company incorporated before the commencement of section 3 of the Companies Act 1989, 31st March;
(b)in the case of a company incorporated after the commencement of that section, the last day of the month in which the anniversary of its incorporation falls.
(4)A company’s first accounting reference period is the period of more than six months, but not more than 18 months, beginning with the date of its incorporation and ending with its accounting reference date.
(5)Its subsequent accounting reference periods are successive periods of twelve months beginning immediately after the end of the previous accounting reference period and ending with its accounting reference date.
(6)This section has effect subject to the provisions of section 225 relating to the alteration of accounting reference dates and the consequences of such alteration.
(1)A company may by notice in the prescribed form given to the registrar specify a new accounting reference date having effect in relation to the company’s current accounting reference period and subsequent periods.
(2)A company may by notice in the prescribed form given to the registrar specify a new accounting reference date having effect in relation to the company’s previous accounting reference period and subsequent periods if—
(a)the company is a subsidiary undertaking or parent undertaking of another company and the new accounting reference date coincides with the accounting reference date of that other company, or
(b)an administration order under Part II of the Insolvency Act 1986 is in force.
A company’s “previous accounting reference period” means that immediately preceding its current accounting reference period.
(3)The notice shall state whether the current or previous accounting reference period—
(a)is to be shortened, so as to come to an end on the first occasion on which the new accounting reference date falls or fell after the beginning of the period, or
(b)is to be extended, so as to come to an end on the second occasion on which that date falls or fell after the beginning of the period.
(4)A notice under subsection (1) stating that the current accounting reference period is to be extended is ineffective, except as mentioned below, if given less than five years after the end of an earlier accounting reference period of the company which was extended by virtue of this section.
This subsection does not apply—
(a)to a notice given by a company which is a subsidiary undertaking or parent undertaking of another company and the new accounting reference date coincides with that of the other company, or
(b)where an administration order is in force under Part II of the Insolvency Act 1986,
or where the Secretary of State directs that it should not apply, which he may do with respect to a notice which has been given or which may be given.
(5)A notice under subsection (2)(a) may not be given if the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports in relation to the previous accounting reference period has already expired.
(6)An accounting reference period may not in any case, unless an administration order is in force under Part II of the Insolvency Act 1986, be extended so as to exceed 18 months and a notice under this section is ineffective if the current or previous accounting reference period as extended in accordance with the notice would exceed that limit.”.
(1)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M3Companies Act 1985—
(1)The directors of every company shall prepare for each financial year of the company—
(a)a balance sheet as at the last day of the year, and
(b)a profit and loss account.
Those accounts are referred to in this Part as the company’s “individual accounts”.
(2)The balance sheet shall give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year; and the profit and loss account shall give a true and fair view of the profit or loss of the company for the financial year.
(3)A company’s individual accounts shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 4 as to the form and content of the balance sheet and profit and loss account and additional information to be provided by way of notes to the accounts.
(4)Where compliance with the provisions of that Schedule, and the other provisions of this Act as to the matters to be included in a company’s individual accounts or in notes to those accounts, would not be sufficient to give a true and fair view, the necessary additional information shall be given in the accounts or in a note to them.
(5)If in special circumstances compliance with any of those provisions is inconsistent with the requirement to give a true and fair view, the directors shall depart from that provision to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view.
Particulars of any such departure, the reasons for it and its effect shall be given in a note to the accounts.”.
(2)Schedule 4 to the M4Companies Act 1985 (form and content of company accounts) is amended in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Act.
(1)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985—
(1)If at the end of a financial year a company is a parent company the directors shall, as well as preparing individual accounts for the year, prepare group accounts.
(2)Group accounts shall be consolidated accounts comprising—
(a)a consolidated balance sheet dealing with the state of affairs of the parent company and its subsidiary undertakings, and
(b)a consolidated profit and loss account dealing with the profit or loss of the parent company and its subsidiary undertakings.
(3)The accounts shall give a true and fair view of the state of affairs as at the end of the financial year, and the profit or loss for the financial year, of the undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole, so far as concerns members of the company.
(4)A company’s group accounts shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 4A as to the form and content of the consolidated balance sheet and consolidated profit and loss account and additional information to be provided by way of notes to the accounts.
(5)Where compliance with the provisions of that Schedule, and the other provisions of this Act, as to the matters to be included in a company’s group accounts or in notes to those accounts, would not be sufficient to give a true and fair view, the necessary additional information shall be given in the accounts or in a note to them.
(6)If in special circumstances compliance with any of those provisions is inconsistent with the requirement to give a true and fair view, the directors shall depart from that provision to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view.
Particulars of any such departure, the reasons for it and its effect shall be given in a note to the accounts.”.
(2)Schedule 2 to this Act (form and content of group accounts) is inserted after Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985, as Schedule 4A.
(3)The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M5Companies Act 1985—
(1)A company is exempt from the requirement to prepare group accounts if it is itself a subsidiary undertaking and its immediate parent undertaking is established under the law of a member State of the European Economic Community, in the following cases—
(a)where the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of that parent undertaking;
(b)where that parent undertaking holds more than 50 per cent. of the shares in the company and notice requesting the preparation of group accounts has not been served on the company by shareholders holding in aggregate—
(i)more than half of the remaining shares in the company, or
(ii)5 per cent. of the total shares in the company.
Such notice must be served not later than six months after the end of the financial year before that to which it relates.
(2)Exemption is conditional upon compliance with all of the following conditions—
(a)that the company is included in consolidated accounts for a larger group drawn up to the same date, or to an earlier date in the same financial year, by a parent undertaking established under the law of a member State of the European Economic Community;
(b)that those accounts are drawn up and audited, and that parent undertaking’s annual report is drawn up, according to that law, in accordance with the provisions of the Seventh Directive (83/349/EEC);
(c)that the company discloses in its individual accounts that it is exempt from the obligation to prepare and deliver group accounts;
(d)that the company states in its individual accounts the name of the parent undertaking which draws up the group accounts referred to above and—
(i)if it is incorporated outside Great Britain, the country in which it is incorporated,
(ii)if it is incorporated in Great Britain, whether it is registered in England and Wales or in Scotland, and
(iii)if it is unincorporated, the address of its principal place of business;
(e)that the company delivers to the registrar, within the period allowed for delivering its individual accounts, copies of those group accounts and of the parent undertaking’s annual report, together with the auditors’ report on them; and
(f)that if any document comprised in accounts and reports delivered in accordance with paragraph (e) is in a language other than English, there is annexed to the copy of that document delivered a translation of it into English, certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct translation.
(3)The exemption does not apply to a company any of whose securities are listed on a stock exchange in any member State of the European Economic Community.
(4)Shares held by directors of a company for the purpose of complying with any share qualification requirement shall be disregarded in determining for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) whether the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) shares held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the parent undertaking, or held on behalf of the parent undertaking or a wholly-owned subsidiary, shall be attributed to the parent undertaking.
(6)In subsection (3) “securities” includes—
(a)shares and stock,
(b)debentures, including debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, certificates of deposit and other instruments creating or acknowledging indebtedness,
(c)warrants or other instruments entitling the holder to subscribe for securities falling within paragraph (a) or (b), and
(d)certificates or other instruments which confer—
(i)property rights in respect of a security falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c),
(ii)any right to acquire, dispose of, underwrite or convert a security, being a right to which the holder would be entitled if he held any such security to which the certificate or other instrument relates, or
(iii)a contractual right (other than an option) to acquire any such security otherwise than by subscription.
(1)Subject to the exceptions authorised or required by this section, all the subsidiary undertakings of the parent company shall be included in the consolidation.
(2)A subsidiary undertaking may be excluded from consolidation if its inclusion is not material for the purpose of giving a true and fair view; but two or more undertakings may be excluded only if they are not material taken together.
(3)In addition, a subsidiary undertaking may be excluded from consolidation where—
(a)severe long-term restrictions substantially hinder the exercise of the rights of the parent company over the assets or management of that undertaking, or
(b)the information necessary for the preparation of group accounts cannot be obtained without disproportionate expense or undue delay, or
(c)the interest of the parent company is held exclusively with a view to subsequent resale and the undertaking has not previously been included in consolidated group accounts prepared by the parent company.
The reference in paragraph (a) to the rights of the parent company and the reference in paragraph (c) to the interest of the parent company are, respectively, to rights and interests held by or attributed to the company for the purposes of section 258 (definition of “parent undertaking”) in the absence of which it would not be the parent company.
(4)Where the activities of one or more subsidiary undertakings are so different from those of other undertakings to be included in the consolidation that their inclusion would be incompatible with the obligation to give a true and fair view, those undertakings shall be excluded from consolidation.
This subsection does not apply merely because some of the undertakings are industrial, some commercial and some provide services, or because they carry on industrial or commercial activities involving different products or provide different services.
(5)Where all the subsidiary undertakings of a parent company fall within the above exclusions, no group accounts are required.”.
(4)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M6Companies Act 1985—
(1)The following provisions apply with respect to the individual profit and loss account of a parent company where—
(a)the company is required to prepare and does prepare group accounts in accordance with this Act, and
(b)the notes to the company’s individual balance sheet show the company’s profit or loss for the financial year determined in accordance with this Act.
(2)The profit and loss account need not contain the information specified in paragraphs 52 to 57 of Schedule 4 (information supplementing the profit and loss account).
(3)The profit and loss account must be approved in accordance with section 233(1) (approval by board of directors) but may be omitted from the company’s annual accounts for the purposes of the other provisions below in this Chapter.
(4)The exemption conferred by this section is conditional upon its being disclosed in the company’s annual accounts that the exemption applies.”.
(1)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M7Companies Act 1985—
(1)The information specified in Schedule 5 shall be given in notes to a company’s annual accounts.
(2)Where the company is not required to prepare group accounts, the information specified in Part I of that Schedule shall be given; and where the company is required to prepare group accounts, the information specified in Part II of that Schedule shall be given.
(3)The information required by Schedule 5 need not be disclosed with respect to an undertaking which—
(a)is established under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom, or
(b)carries on business outside the United Kingdom,
if in the opinion of the directors of the company the disclosure would be seriously prejudicial to the business of that undertaking, or to the business of the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings, and the Secretary of State agrees that the information need not be disclosed.
This subsection does not apply in relation to the information required under paragraph 5(2), 6 or 20 of that Schedule.
(4)Where advantage is taken of subsection (3), that fact shall be stated in a note to the company’s annual accounts.
(5)If the directors of the company are of the opinion that the number of undertakings in respect of which the company is required to disclose information under any provision of Schedule 5 to this Act is such that compliance with that provision would result in information of excessive length being given, the information need only be given in respect of—
(a)the undertakings whose results or financial position, in the opinion of the directors, principally affected the figures shown in the company’s annual accounts, and
(b)undertakings excluded from consolidation under section 229(3) or (4).
This subsection does not apply in relation to the information required under paragraph 10 or 29 of that Schedule.
(6)If advantage is taken of subsection (5)—
(a)there shall be included in the notes to the company’s annual accounts a statement that the information is given only with respect to such undertakings as are mentioned in that subsection, and
(b)the full information (both that which is disclosed in the notes to the accounts and that which is not) shall be annexed to the company’s next annual return.
For this purpose the “next annual return” means that next delivered to the registrar after the accounts in question have been approved under section 233.
(7)If a company fails to comply with subsection (6)(b), the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.”.
(2)Schedule 3 to this Act (disclosure of information: related undertakings) is substituted for Schedule 5 to the M8Companies Act 1985.
(3)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985—
(1)The information specified in Schedule 6 shall be given in notes to a company’s annual accounts.
(2)In that Schedule—
Part I relates to the emoluments of directors (including emoluments waived), pensions of directors and past directors, compensation for loss of office to directors and past directors and sums paid to third parties in respect of directors’ services,
Part II relates to loans, quasi-loans and other dealings in favour of directors and connected persons, and
Part III relates to transactions, arrangements and agreements made by the company or a subsidiary undertaking for officers of the company other than directors.
(3)It is the duty of any director of a company, and any person who is or has at any time in the preceding five years been an officer of the company, to give notice to the company of such matters relating to himself as may be necessary for the purposes of Part I of Schedule 6.
(4)A person who makes default in complying with subsection (3) commits an offence and is liable to a fine.”.
(4)Schedule 6 to the M9Companies Act 1985 is amended in accordance with Schedule 4 to this Act.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985—
(1)A company’s annual accounts shall be approved by the board of directors and signed on behalf of the board by a director of the company.
(2)The signature shall be on the company’s balance sheet.
(3)Every copy of the balance sheet which is laid before the company in general meeting, or which is otherwise circulated, published or issued, shall state the name of the person who signed the balance sheet on behalf of the board.
(4)The copy of the company’s balance sheet which is delivered to the registrar shall be signed on behalf of the board by a director of the company.
(5)If annual accounts are approved which do not comply with the requirements of this Act, every director of the company who is party to their approval and who knows that they do not comply or is reckless as to whether they comply is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
For this purpose every director of the company at the time the accounts are approved shall be taken to be a party to their approval unless he shows that he took all reasonable steps to prevent their being approved.
(6)If a copy of the balance sheet—
(a)is laid before the company, or otherwise circulated, published or issued, without the balance sheet having been signed as required by this section or without the required statement of the signatory’s name being included, or
(b)is delivered to the registrar without being signed as required by this section,
the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.”.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M10Companies Act 1985—
(1)The directors of a company shall for each financial year prepare a report—
(a)containing a fair review of the development of the business of the company and its subsidiary undertakings during the financial year and of their position at the end of it, and
(b)stating the amount (if any) which they recommend should be paid as dividend and the amount (if any) which they propose to carry to reserves.
(2)The report shall state the names of the persons who, at any time during the financial year, were directors of the company, and the principal activities of the company and its subsidiary undertakings in the course of the year and any significant change in those activities in the year.
(3)The report shall also comply with Schedule 7 as regards the disclosure of the matters mentioned there.
(4)In Schedule 7—
Part I relates to matters of a general nature, including changes in asset values, directors’ shareholdings and other interests and contributions for political and charitable purposes,
Part II relates to the acquisition by a company of its own shares or a charge on them,
Part III relates to the employment, training and advancement of disabled persons,
Part IV relates to the health, safety and welfare at work of the company’s employees, and
Part V relates to the involvement of employees in the affairs, policy and performance of the company.
(5)In the case of any failure to comply with the provisions of this Part as to the preparation of a directors’ report and the contents of the report, every person who was a director of the company immediately before the end of the period for laying and delivering accounts and reports for the financial year in question is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(6)In proceedings against a person for an offence under this section it is a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable steps for securing compliance with the requirements in question.
(1)The directors’ report shall be approved by the board of directors and signed on behalf of the board by a director or the secretary of the company.
(2)Every copy of the directors’ report which is laid before the company in general meeting, or which is otherwise circulated, published or issued, shall state the name of the person who signed it on behalf of the board.
(3)The copy of the directors’ report which is delivered to the registrar shall be signed on behalf of the board by a director or the secretary of the company.
(4)If a copy of the directors’ report—
(a)is laid before the company, or otherwise circulated, published or issued, without the report having been signed as required by this section or without the required statement of the signatory’s name being included, or
(b)is delivered to the registrar without being signed as required by this section,
the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.”.
(2)Schedule 7 to the M11Companies Act 1985 (matters to be included in directors’ report) is amended in accordance with Schedule 5 to this Act.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985—
(1)A company’s auditors shall make a report to the company’s members on all annual accounts of the company of which copies are to be laid before the company in general meeting during their tenure of office.
(2)The auditors’ report shall state whether in the auditors’ opinion the annual accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with this Act, and in particular whether a true and fair view is given—
(a)in the case of an individual balance sheet, of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year,
(b)in the case of an individual profit and loss account, of the profit or loss of the company for the financial year,
(c)in the case of group accounts, of the state of affairs as at the end of the financial year, and the profit or loss for the financial year, of the undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole, so far as concerns members of the company.
(3)The auditors shall consider whether the information given in the directors’ report for the financial year for which the annual accounts are prepared is consistent with those accounts; and if they are of opinion that it is not they shall state that fact in their report.
(1)The auditors’ report shall state the names of the auditors and be signed by them.
(2)Every copy of the auditors’ report which is laid before the company in general meeting, or which is otherwise circulated, published or issued, shall state the names of the auditors.
(3)The copy of the auditors’ report which is delivered to the registrar shall state the names of the auditors and be signed by them.
(4)If a copy of the auditors’ report—
(a)is laid before the company, or otherwise circulated, published or issued, without the required statement of the auditors’ names, or
(b)is delivered to the registrar without the required statement of the auditors’ names or without being signed as required by this section,
the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(5)References in this section to signature by the auditors are, where the office of auditor is held by a body corporate or partnership, to signature in the name of the body corporate or partnership by a person authorised to sign on its behalf.
(1)A company’s auditors shall, in preparing their report, carry out such investigations as will enable them to form an opinion as to—
(a)whether proper accounting records have been kept by the company and proper returns adequate for their audit have been received from branches not visited by them, and
(b)whether the company’s individual accounts are in agreement with the accounting records and returns.
(2)If the auditors are of opinion that proper accounting records have not been kept, or that proper returns adequate for their audit have not been received from branches not visited by them, or if the company’s individual accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns, the auditors shall state that fact in their report.
(3)If the auditors fail to obtain all the information and explanations which, to the best of their knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of their audit, they shall state that fact in their report.
(4)If the requirements of Schedule 6 (disclosure of information: emoluments and other benefits of directors and others) are not complied with in the annual accounts, the auditors shall include in their report, so far as they are reasonably able to do so, a statement giving the required particulars.”.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M12Companies Act 1985—
(1)A copy of the company’s annual accounts, together with a copy of the directors’ report for that financial year and of the auditors’ report on those accounts, shall be sent to—
(a)every member of the company,
(b)every holder of the company’s debentures, and
(c)every person who is entitled to receive notice of general meetings,
not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting at which copies of those documents are to be laid in accordance with section 241.
(2)Copies need not be sent—
(a)to a person who is not entitled to receive notices of general meetings and of whose address the company is unaware, or
(b)to more than one of the joint holders of shares or debentures none of whom is entitled to receive such notices, or
(c)in the case of joint holders of shares or debentures some of whom are, and some not, entitled to receive such notices, to those who are not so entitled.
(3)In the case of a company not having a share capital, copies need not be sent to anyone who is not entitled to receive notices of general meetings of the company.
(4)If copies are sent less than 21 days before the date of the meeting, they shall, notwithstanding that fact, be deemed to have been duly sent if it is so agreed by all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
(5)If default is made in complying with this section, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(6)Where copies are sent out under this section over a period of days, references elsewhere in this Act to the day on which copies are sent out shall be construed as references to the last day of that period.
(1)Any member of a company and any holder of a company’s debentures is entitled to be furnished, on demand and without charge, with a copy of the company’s last annual accounts and directors’ report and a copy of the auditors’ report on those accounts.
(2)The entitlement under this section is to a single copy of those documents, but that is in addition to any copy to which a person may be entitled under section 238.
(3)If a demand under this section is not complied with within seven days, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
(4)If in proceedings for such an offence the issue arises whether a person had already been furnished with a copy of the relevant document under this section, it is for the defendant to prove that he had.
(1)If a company publishes any of its statutory accounts, they must be accompanied by the relevant auditors’ report under section 235.
(2)A company which is required to prepare group accounts for a financial year shall not publish its statutory individual accounts for that year without also publishing with them its statutory group accounts.
(3)If a company publishes non-statutory accounts, it shall publish with them a statement indicating—
(a)that they are not the company’s statutory accounts,
(b)whether statutory accounts dealing with any financial year with which the non-statutory accounts purport to deal have been delivered to the registrar,
(c)whether the company’s auditors have made a report under section 235 on the statutory accounts for any such financial year, and
(d)whether any report so made was qualified or contained a statement under section 237(2) or (3) (accounting records or returns inadequate, accounts not agreeing with records and returns or failure to obtain necessary information and explanations);
and it shall not publish with the non-statutory accounts any auditors’ report under section 235.
(4)For the purposes of this section a company shall be regarded as publishing a document if it publishes, issues or circulates it or otherwise makes it available for public inspection in a manner calculated to invite members of the public generally, or any class of members of the public, to read it.
(5)References in this section to a company’s statutory accounts are to its individual or group accounts for a financial year as required to be delivered to the registrar under section 242; and references to the publication by a company of “non-statutory accounts” are to the publication of—
(a)any balance sheet or profit and loss account relating to, or purporting to deal with, a financial year of the company, or
(b)an account in any form purporting to be a balance sheet or profit and loss account for the group consisting of the company and its subsidiary undertakings relating to, or purporting to deal with, a financial year of the company,
otherwise than as part of the company’s statutory accounts.
(6)A company which contravenes any provision of this section, and any officer of it who is in default, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.”.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M13Companies Act 1985—
(1)The directors of a company shall in respect of each financial year lay before the company in general meeting copies of the company’s annual accounts, the directors’ report and the auditors’ report on those accounts.
(2)If the requirements of subsection (1) are not complied with before the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports, every person who immediately before the end of that period was a director of the company is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
(3)It is a defence for a person charged with such an offence to prove that he took all reasonable steps for securing that those requirements would be complied with before the end of that period.
(4)It is not a defence to prove that the documents in question were not in fact prepared as required by this Part.
(1)The directors of a company shall in respect of each financial year deliver to the registrar a copy of the company’s annual accounts together with a copy of the directors’ report for that year and a copy of the auditors’ report on those accounts.
If any document comprised in those accounts or reports is in a language other than English, the directors shall annex to the copy of that document delivered a translation of it into English, certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct translation.
(2)If the requirements of subsection (1) are not complied with before the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports, every person who immediately before the end of that period was a director of the company is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
(3)Further, if the directors of the company fail to make good the default within 14 days after the service of a notice on them requiring compliance, the court may on the application of any member or creditor of the company or of the registrar, make an order directing the directors (or any of them) to make good the default within such time as may be specified in the order.
The court’s order may provide that all costs of and incidental to the application shall be borne by the directors.
(4)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he took all reasonable steps for securing that the requirements of subsection (1) would be complied with before the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports.
(5)It is not a defence in any proceedings under this section to prove that the documents in question were not in fact prepared as required by this Part.
(1)Where the requirements of section 242(1) are not complied with before the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports, the company is liable to a civil penalty.
This is in addition to any liability of the directors under section 242.
(2)The amount of the penalty is determined by reference to the length of the period between the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports and the day on which the requirements are complied with, and whether the company is a public or private company, as follows:—
Length of period | Public company | Private company |
---|---|---|
Not more than 3 months. | £500 | £100 |
More than 3 months but not more than 6 months. | £1,000 | £250 |
More than 6 months but not more than 12 months. | £2,000 | £500 |
More than 12 months. | £5,000 | £1,000 |
(3)The penalty may be recovered by the registrar and shall be paid by him into the Consolidated Fund.
(4)It is not a defence in proceedings under this section to prove that the documents in question were not in fact prepared as required by this Part.
(1)The following provisions apply where at the end of the financial year a parent company has as a subsidiary undertaking—
(a)a body corporate incorporated outside Great Britain which does not have an established place of business in Great Britain, or
(b)an unincorporated undertaking,
which is excluded from consolidation in accordance with section 229(4) (undertaking with activities different from the undertakings included in the consolidation).
(2)There shall be appended to the copy of the company’s annual accounts delivered to the registrar in accordance with section 242 a copy of the undertaking’s latest individual accounts and, if it is a parent undertaking, its latest group accounts.
If the accounts appended are required by law to be audited, a copy of the auditors’ report shall also be appended.
(3)The accounts must be for a period ending not more than twelve months before the end of the financial year for which the parent company’s accounts are made up.
(4)If any document required to be appended is in a language other than English, the directors shall annex to the copy of that document delivered a translation of it into English, certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct translation.
(5)The above requirements are subject to the following qualifications—
(a)an undertaking is not required to prepare for the purposes of this section accounts which would not otherwise be prepared, and if no accounts satisfying the above requirements are prepared none need be appended;
(b)a document need not be appended if it would not otherwise be required to be published, or made available for public inspection, anywhere in the world, but in that case the reason for not appending it shall be stated in a note to the company’s accounts;
(c)where an undertaking and all its subsidiary undertakings are excluded from consolidation in accordance with section 229(4), the accounts of such of the subsidiary undertakings of that undertaking as are included in its consolidated group accounts need not be appended.
(6)Subsections (2) to (4) of section 242 (penalties, &c. in case of default) apply in relation to the requirements of this section as they apply in relation to the requirements of subsection (1) of that section.
(1)The period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports is—
(a)for a private company, 10 months after the end of the relevant accounting reference period, and
(b)for a public company, 7 months after the end of that period.
This is subject to the following provisions of this section.
(2)If the relevant accounting reference period is the company’s first and is a period of more than 12 months, the period allowed is—
(a)10 months or 7 months, as the case may be, from the first anniversary of the incorporation of the company, or
(b)3 months from the end of the accounting reference period,
whichever last expires.
(3)Where a company carries on business, or has interests, outside the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, the directors may, in respect of any financial year, give to the registrar before the end of the period allowed by subsection (1) or (2) a notice in the prescribed form—
(a)stating that the company so carries on business or has such interests, and
(b)claiming a 3 month extension of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports;
and upon such a notice being given the period is extended accordingly.
(4)If the relevant accounting period is treated as shortened by virtue of a notice given by the company under section 225 (alteration of accounting reference date), the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts is that applicable in accordance with the above provisions or 3 months from the date of the notice under that section, whichever last expires.
(5)If for any special reason the Secretary of State thinks fit he may, on an application made before the expiry of the period otherwise allowed, by notice in writing to a company extend that period by such further period as may be specified in the notice.
(6)In this section “the relevant accounting reference period” means the accounting reference period by reference to which the financial year for the accounts in question was determined.”.
Commencement Information
I2S. 11 partly in force see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/355 and 1991/2945, arts. 2, 3
Marginal Citations
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M14Companies Act 1985—
(1)If it appears to the directors of a company that any annual accounts of the company, or any directors’ report, did not comply with the requirements of this Act, they may prepare revised accounts or a revised report.
(2)Where copies of the previous accounts or report have been laid before the company in general meeting or delivered to the registrar, the revisions shall be confined to—
(a)the correction of those respects in which the previous accounts or report did not comply with the requirements of this Act, and
(b)the making of any necessary consequential alterations.
(3)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the application of the provisions of this Act in relation to revised annual accounts or a revised directors’ report.
(4)The regulations may, in particular—
(a)make different provision according to whether the previous accounts or report are replaced or are supplemented by a document indicating the corrections to be made;
(b)make provision with respect to the functions of the company’s auditors in relation to the revised accounts or report;
(c)require the directors to take such steps as may be specified in the regulations where the previous accounts or report have been—
(i)sent out to members and others under section 238(1),
(ii)laid before the company in general meeting, or
(iii)delivered to the registrar,
or where a summary financial statement based on the previous accounts or report has been sent to members under section 251;
(d)apply the provisions of this Act (including those creating criminal offences) subject to such additions, exceptions and modifications as are specified in the regulations.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)Where copies of a company’s annual accounts have been sent out under section 238, or a copy of a company’s annual accounts has been laid before the company in general meeting or delivered to the registrar, and it appears to the Secretary of State that there is, or may be, a question whether the accounts comply with the requirements of this Act, he may give notice to the directors of the company indicating the respects in which it appears to him that such a question arises, or may arise.
(2)The notice shall specify a period of not less than one month for the directors to give him an explanation of the accounts or prepare revised accounts.
(3)If at the end of the specified period, or such longer period as he may allow, it appears to the Secretary of State that no satisfactory explanation of the accounts has been given and that the accounts have not been revised so as to comply with the requirements of this Act, he may if he thinks fit apply to the court.
(4)The provisions of this section apply equally to revised annual accounts, in which case the references to revised accounts shall be read as references to further revised accounts.
(1)An application may be made to the court—
(a)by the Secretary of State, after having complied with section 245A, or
(b)by a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section,
for a declaration or declarator that the annual accounts of a company do not comply with the requirements of this Act and for an order requiring the directors of the company to prepare revised accounts.
(2)Notice of the application, together with a general statement of the matters at issue in the proceedings, shall be given by the applicant to the registrar for registration.
(3)If the court orders the preparation of revised accounts, it may give directions with respect to—
(a)the auditing of the accounts,
(b)the revision of any directors’ report or summary financial statement, and
(c)the taking of steps by the directors to bring the making of the order to the notice of persons likely to rely on the previous accounts,
and such other matters as the court thinks fit.
(4)If the court finds that the accounts did not comply with the requirements of this Act it may order that all or part of—
(a)the costs (or in Scotland expenses) of and incidental to the application, and
(b)any reasonable expenses incurred by the company in connection with or in consequence of the preparation of revised accounts,
shall be borne by such of the directors as were party to the approval of the defective accounts.
For this purpose every director of the company at the time the accounts were approved shall be taken to have been a party to their approval unless he shows that he took all reasonable steps to prevent their being approved.
(5)Where the court makes an order under subsection (4) it shall have regard to whether the directors party to the approval of the defective accounts knew or ought to have known that the accounts did not comply with the requirements of this Act, and it may exclude one or more directors from the order or order the payment of different amounts by different directors.
(6)On the conclusion of proceedings on an application under this section, the applicant shall give to the registrar for registration an office copy of the court order or, as the case may be, notice that the application has failed or been withdrawn.
(7)The provisions of this section apply equally to revised annual accounts, in which case the references to revised accounts shall be read as references to further revised accounts.
(1)The Secretary of State may authorise for the purposes of section 245B any person appearing to him—
(a)to have an interest in, and to have satisfactory procedures directed to securing, compliance by companies with the accounting requirements of this Act,
(b)to have satisfactory procedures for receiving and investigating complaints about the annual accounts of companies, and
(c)otherwise to be a fit and proper person to be authorised.
(2)A person may be authorised generally or in respect of particular classes of case, and different persons may be authorised in respect of different classes of case.
(3)The Secretary of State may refuse to authorise a person if he considers that his authorisation is unnecessary having regard to the fact that there are one or more other persons who have been or are likely to be authorised.
(4)Authorisation shall be by order made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5)Where authorisation is revoked, the revoking order may make such provision as the Secretary of State thinks fit with respect to pending proceedings.
(6)Neither a person authorised under this section, nor any officer, servant or member of the governing body of such a person, shall be liable in damages for anything done or purporting to be done for the purposes of or in connection with—
(a)the taking of steps to discover whether there are grounds for an application to the court,
(b)the determination whether or not to make such an application, or
(c)the publication of its reasons for any such decision,
unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.”.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M15Companies Act 1985, as the beginning of a Chapter II—
(1)A company which qualifies as a small or medium-sized company in relation to a financial year—
(a)is exempt from the requirements of paragraph 36A of Schedule 4 (disclosure with respect to compliance with accounting standards), and
(b)is entitled to the exemptions provided by Schedule 8 with respect to the delivery to the registrar under section 242 of individual accounts and other documents for that financial year.
(2)In that Schedule—
Part I relates to small companies,
Part II relates to medium-sized companies, and
Part III contains supplementary provisions.
(3)A company is not entitled to the exemptions mentioned in subsection (1) if it is, or was at any time within the financial year to which the accounts relate—
(a)a public company,
(b)a banking or insurance company, or
(c)an authorised person under the Financial Services Act 1986,
or if it is or was at any time during that year a member of an ineligible group.
(4)A group is ineligible if any of its members is—
(a)a public company or a body corporate which (not being a company) has power under its constitution to offer its shares or debentures to the public and may lawfully exercise that power,
(b)an authorised institution under the Banking Act 1987,
(c)an insurance company to which Part II of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 applies, or
(d)an authorised person under the Financial Services Act 1986.
(5)A parent company shall not be treated as qualifying as a small company in relation to a financial year unless the group headed by it qualifies as a small group, and shall not be treated as qualifying as a medium-sized company in relation to a financial year unless that group qualifies as a medium-sized group (see section 249).
(1)A company qualifies as small or medium-sized in relation to a financial year if the qualifying conditions are met—
(a)in the case of the company’s first financial year, in that year, and
(b)in the case of any subsequent financial year, in that year and the preceding year.
(2)A company shall be treated as qualifying as small or medium-sized in relation to a financial year—
(a)if it so qualified in relation to the previous financial year under subsection (1); or
(b)if it was treated as so qualifying in relation to the previous year by virtue of paragraph (a) and the qualifying conditions are met in the year in question.
(3)The qualifying conditions are met by a company in a year in which it satisfies two or more of the following requirements—
Small company | |
1. Turnover | Not more than £2 million |
2. Balance sheet total | Not more than £975,000 |
3. Number of employees | Not more than 50 |
Medium-sized company | |
1. Turnover | Not more than £8 million |
2. Balance sheet total | Not more than £3.9 million |
3. Number of employees | Not more than 250. |
(4)For a period which is a company’s financial year but not in fact a year the maximum figures for turnover shall be proportionately adjusted.
(5)The balance sheet total means—
(a)where in the company’s accounts Format 1 of the balance sheet formats set out in Part I of Schedule 4 is adopted, the aggregate of the amounts shown in the balance sheet under the headings corresponding to items A to D in that Format, and
(b)where Format 2 is adopted, the aggregate of the amounts shown under the general heading “Assets”.
(6)The number of employees means the average number of persons employed by the company in the year (determined on a weekly basis).
That number shall be determined by applying the method of calculation prescribed by paragraph 56(2) and (3) of Schedule 4 for determining the corresponding number required to be stated in a note to the company’s accounts.”.
(2)Schedule 6 to this Act is substituted for Schedule 8 to the M16Companies Act 1985.
(3)The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985—
(1)A parent company need not prepare group accounts for a financial year in relation to which the group headed by that company qualifies as a small or medium-sized group and is not an ineligible group.
(2)A group is ineligible if any of its members is—
(a)a public company or a body corporate which (not being a company) has power under its constitution to offer its shares or debentures to the public and may lawfully exercise that power,
(b)an authorised institution under the Banking Act 1987,
(c)an insurance company to which Part II of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 applies, or
(d)an authorised person under the Financial Services Act 1986.
(3)If the directors of a company propose to take advantage of the exemption conferred by this section, it is the auditors’ duty to provide them with a report stating whether in their opinion the company is entitled to the exemption.
(4)The exemption does not apply unless—
(a)the auditors’ report states that in their opinion the company is so entitled, and
(b)that report is attached to the individual accounts of the company.
(1)A group qualifies as small or medium-sized in relation to a financial year if the qualifying conditions are met—
(a)in the case of the parent company’s first financial year, in that year, and
(b)in the case of any subsequent financial year, in that year and the preceding year.
(2)A group shall be treated as qualifying as small or medium-sized in relation to a financial year—
(a)if it so qualified in relation to the previous financial year under subsection (1); or
(b)if it was treated as so qualifying in relation to the previous year by virtue of paragraph (a) and the qualifying conditions are met in the year in question.
(3)The qualifying conditions are met by a group in a year in which it satisfies two or more of the following requirements—
Small group | |
1. Aggregate turnover | Not more than £2 million net (or £2.4 million gross) |
2. Aggregate balance sheet total | Not more than £1 million net (or £1.2 million gross) |
3. Aggregate number of employees | Not more than 50 |
Medium-sized group | |
1. Aggregate turnover | Not more than £8 million net (or £9.6 million gross) |
2. Aggregate balance sheet total | Not more than £3.9 million net (or £4.7 million gross) |
3. Aggregate number of employees | Not more than 250. |
(4)The aggregate figures shall be ascertained by aggregating the relevant figures determined in accordance with section 247 for each member of the group.
In relation to the aggregate figures for turnover and balance sheet total, “net” means with the set-offs and other adjustments required by Schedule 4A in the case of group accounts and “gross” means without those set-offs and other adjustments; and a company may satisfy the relevant requirement on the basis of either the net or the gross figure.
(5)The figures for each subsidiary undertaking shall be those included in its accounts for the relevant financial year, that is—
(a)if its financial year ends with that of the parent company, that financial year, and
(b)if not, its financial year ending last before the end of the financial year of the parent company.
(6)If those figures cannot be obtained without disproportionate expense or undue delay, the latest available figures shall be taken.”.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M17Companies Act 1985—
(1)A company may by special resolution make itself exempt from the provisions of this Part relating to the audit of accounts in the following cases—
(a)if the company has been dormant from the time of its formation, by a special resolution passed before the first general meeting of the company at which annual accounts are laid;
(b)if the company has been dormant since the end of the previous financial year and—
(i)is entitled in respect of its individual accounts for that year to the exemptions conferred by section 246 on a small company, or would be so entitled but for being a member of an ineligible group, and
(ii)is not required to prepare group accounts for that year,
by a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the company at which the annual accounts for that year are laid.
(2)A company may not pass such a resolution if it is—
(a)a public company,
(b)a banking or insurance company, or
(c)an authorised person under the Financial Services Act 1986.
(3)A company is “dormant” during a period in which no significant accounting transaction occurs, that is, no transaction which is required by section 221 to be entered in the company’s accounting records; and a company ceases to be dormant on the occurrence of such a transaction.
For this purpose there shall be disregarded any transaction arising from the taking of shares in the company by a subscriber to the memorandum in pursuance of an undertaking of his in the memorandum.
(4)Where a company is, at the end of a financial year, exempt by virtue of this section from the provisions of this Part relating to the audit of accounts—
(a)sections 238 and 239 (right to receive or demand copies of accounts and reports) have effect with the omission of references to the auditors’ report;
(b)no copies of an auditors’ report need be laid before the company in general meeting;
(c)no copy of an auditors’ report need be delivered to the registrar, and if none is delivered, the copy of the balance sheet so delivered shall contain a statement by the directors, in a position immediately above the signature required by section 233(4), that the company was dormant throughout the financial year; and
(d)the company shall be treated as entitled in respect of its individual accounts for that year to the exemptions conferred by section 246 on a small company notwithstanding that it is a member of an ineligible group.
(5)Where a company which is exempt by virtue of this section from the provisions of this Part relating to the audit of accounts—
(a)ceases to be dormant, or
(b)would no longer qualify (for any other reason) to make itself exempt by passing a resolution under this section,
it shall thereupon cease to be so exempt.”.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M18Companies Act 1985—
(1)A public company whose shares, or any class of whose shares, are listed need not, in such cases as may be specified by regulations made by the Secretary of State, and provided any conditions so specified are complied with, send copies of the documents referred to in section 238(1) to members of the company, but may instead send them a summary financial statement.
In this subsection “listed” means admitted to the Official List of The International Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Limited.
(2)Copies of the documents referred to in section 238(1) shall, however, be sent to any member of the company who wishes to receive them; and the Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the manner in which it is to be ascertained whether a member of the company wishes to receive them.
(3)The summary financial statement shall be derived from the company’s annual accounts and the directors’ report and shall be in such form and contain such information as may be specified by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(4)Every summary financial statement shall—
(a)state that it is only a summary of information in the company’s annual accounts and the directors’ report;
(b)contain a statement by the company’s auditors of their opinion as to whether the summary financial statement is consistent with those accounts and that report and complies with the requirements of this section and regulations made under it;
(c)state whether the auditors’ report on the annual accounts was unqualified or qualified, and if it was qualified set out the report in full together with any further material needed to understand the qualification;
(d)state whether the auditors’ report on the annual accounts contained a statement under—
(i)section 237(2) (accounting records or returns inadequate or accounts not agreeing with records and returns), or
(ii)section 237(3) (failure to obtain necessary information and explanations),
and if so, set out the statement in full.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(6)If default is made in complying with this section or regulations made under it, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(7)Section 240 (requirements in connection with publication of accounts) does not apply in relation to the provision to members of a company of a summary financial statement in accordance with this section.”.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M19Companies Act 1985—
(1)A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A) to dispense with the laying of accounts and reports before the company in general meeting.
(2)An election has effect in relation to the accounts and reports in respect of the financial year in which the election is made and subsequent financial years.
(3)Whilst an election is in force, the references in the following provisions of this Act to the laying of accounts before the company in general meeting shall be read as references to the sending of copies of the accounts to members and others under section 238(1)—
(a)section 235(1) (accounts on which auditors are to report),
(b)section 270(3) and (4) (accounts by reference to which distributions are justified), and
(c)section 320(2) (accounts relevant for determining company’s net assets for purposes of ascertaining whether approval required for certain transactions);
and the requirement in section 271(4) that the auditors’ statement under that provision be laid before the company in general meeting shall be read as a requirement that it be sent to members and others along with the copies of the accounts sent to them under section 238(1).
(4)If an election under this section ceases to have effect, section 241 applies in relation to the accounts and reports in respect of the financial year in which the election ceases to have effect and subsequent financial years.
(1)Where an election under section 252 is in force, the copies of the accounts and reports sent out in accordance with section 238(1)—
(a)shall be sent not less than 28 days before the end of the period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports, and
(b)shall be accompanied, in the case of a member of the company, by a notice informing him of his right to require the laying of the accounts and reports before a general meeting;
and section 238(5) (penalty for default) applies in relation to the above requirements as to the requirements contained in that section.
(2)Before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the accounts and reports are sent out in accordance with section 238(1), any member or auditor of the company may by notice in writing deposited at the registered office of the company require that a general meeting be held for the purpose of laying the accounts and reports before the company.
(3)If the directors do not within 21 days from the date of the deposit of such a notice proceed duly to convene a meeting, the person who deposited the notice may do so himself.
(4)A meeting so convened shall not be held more than three months from that date and shall be convened in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as that in which meetings are to be convened by directors.
(5)Where the directors do not duly convene a meeting, any reasonable expenses incurred by reason of that failure by the person who deposited the notice shall be made good to him by the company, and shall be recouped by the company out of any fees, or other remuneration in respect of their services, due or to become due to such of the directors as were in default.
(6)The directors shall be deemed not to have duly convened a meeting if they convene a meeting for a date more than 28 days after the date of the notice convening it.”.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M20Companies Act 1985—
(1)The directors of an unlimited company are not required to deliver accounts and reports to the registrar in respect of a financial year if the following conditions are met.
(2)The conditions are that at no time during the relevant accounting reference period—
(a)has the company been, to its knowledge, a subsidiary undertaking of an undertaking which was then limited, or
(b)have there been, to its knowledge, exercisable by or on behalf of two or more undertakings which were then limited, rights which if exercisable by one of them would have made the company a subsidiary undertaking of it, or
(c)has the company been a parent company of an undertaking which was then limited.
The references above to an undertaking being limited at a particular time are to an undertaking (under whatever law established) the liability of whose members is at that time limited.
(3)The exemption conferred by this section does not apply if at any time during the relevant accounting period the company carried on business as the promoter of a trading stamp scheme within the Trading Stamps Act 1964.
(4)Where a company is exempt by virtue of this section from the obligation to deliver accounts, section 240 (requirements in connection with publication of accounts) has effect with the following modifications—
(a)in subsection (3)(b) for the words from “whether statutory accounts” to “have been delivered to the registrar” substitute “that the company is exempt from the requirement to deliver statutory accounts”, and
(b)in subsection (5) for “as required to be delivered to the registrar under section 242” substitute “as prepared in accordance with this Part and approved by the board of directors”.”.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M21Companies Act 1985—
(1)A banking or insurance company may prepare its individual accounts in accordance with Part I of Schedule 9 rather than Schedule 4.
(2)Accounts so prepared shall contain a statement that they are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking companies or insurance companies, as the case may be.
(3)In relation to the preparation of individual accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking or insurance companies, the references to the provisions of Schedule 4 in section 226(4) and (5) (relationship between specific requirements and duty to give true and fair view) shall be read as references to the provisions of Part I of Schedule 9.
(4)The Secretary of State may, on the application or with the consent of the directors of a company which prepares individual accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking or insurance companies, modify in relation to the company any of the requirements of this Part for the purpose of adapting them to the circumstances of the company.
This does not affect the duty to give a true and fair view.
(1)The parent company of a banking or insurance group may prepare group accounts in accordance with the provisions of this Part as modified by Part II of Schedule 9.
(2)Accounts so prepared shall contain a statement that they are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking groups or insurance groups, as the case may be.
(3)References in this Part to a banking group are to a group where—
(a)the parent company is a banking company, or
(b)at least one of the undertakings in the group is an authorised institution under the Banking Act 1987 and the predominant activities of the group are such as to make it inappropriate to prepare group accounts in accordance with the formats in Part I of Schedule 4.
(4)References in this Part to an insurance group are to a group where—
(a)the parent company is an insurance company, or
(b)the predominant activity of the group is insurance business and activities which are a direct extension of or ancillary to insurance business.
(5)In relation to the preparation of group accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking or insurance groups, the references to the provisions of Schedule 4A in section 227(5) and (6) (relationship between specific requirements and duty to give true and fair view) shall be read as references to those provisions as modified by Part II of Schedule 9.
(6)The Secretary of State may, on the application or with the consent of the directors of a company which prepares group accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking or insurance groups, modify in relation to the company any of the requirements of this Part for the purpose of adapting them to the circumstances of the company.
(1)In relation to a company which prepares accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking companies or groups, the provisions of Schedule 5 (additional disclosure: related undertakings) have effect subject to Part III of Schedule 9.
(2)In relation to a banking company, or the parent company of a banking company, the provisions of Schedule 6 (disclosure: emoluments and other benefits of directors and others) have effect subject to Part IV of Schedule 9.
(1)The following provisions apply in relation to the directors’ report of a company for a financial year in respect of which it prepares accounts in accordance with the special provisions of this Part relating to banking or insurance companies or groups.
(2)The information required to be given by paragraph 6, 8 or 13 of Part I of Schedule 9 (which is allowed to be given in a statement or report annexed to the accounts), may be given in the directors’ report instead.
Information so given shall be treated for the purposes of audit as forming part of the accounts.
(3)The reference in section 234(1)(b) to the amount proposed to be carried to reserves shall be construed as a reference to the amount proposed to be carried to reserves within the meaning of Part I of Schedule 9.
(4)If the company takes advantage, in relation to its individual or group accounts, of the exemptions conferred by paragraph 27 or 28 of Part I of Schedule 9, paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 (disclosure of asset values) does not apply.
(5)The directors’ report shall, in addition to complying with Schedule 7, also comply with Schedule 10 (which specifies additional matters to be disclosed).”.
(2)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M22Companies Act 1985—
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations apply to banking partnerships, subject to such exceptions, adaptations and modifications as he considers appropriate, the provisions of this Part applying to banking companies.
(2)A “banking partnership” means a partnership which is an authorised institution under the Banking Act 1987.
(3)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
(4)No regulations under this section shall be made unless a draft of the instrument containing the regulations has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.”.
(3)Schedule 9 to the M23Companies Act 1985 (form and content of special category accounts) is amended in accordance with Schedule 7 to this Act.
(4)In that Schedule—
Part I contains amendments relating to the form and content of accounts of banking and insurance companies and groups,
Part II contains provisions with respect to the group accounts of banking and insurance groups,
Part III contains provisions adapting the requirements of Schedule 5 to the Companies Act 1985 (additional disclosure: related undertakings), and
Part IV contains provisions relating to the requirements of Schedule 6 to that Act (additional disclosure: emoluments and other benefits of directors and others).
(5)Schedule 8 to this Act (directors’ report where accounts prepared in accordance with special provisions for banking and insurance companies and groups) is substituted for Schedule 10 to the Companies Act 1985.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985, as the beginning of a Chapter III—
(1)In this Part “accounting standards” means statements of standard accounting practice issued by such body or bodies as may be prescribed by regulations.
(2)References in this Part to accounting standards applicable to a company’s annual accounts are to such standards as are, in accordance with their terms, relevant to the company’s circumstances and to the accounts.
(3)The Secretary of State may make grants to or for the purposes of bodies concerned with—
(a)issuing accounting standards,
(b)overseeing and directing the issuing of such standards, or
(c)investigating departures from such standards or from the accounting requirements of this Act and taking steps to secure compliance with them.
(4)Regulations under this section may contain such transitional and other supplementary and incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.”.
The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M24Companies Act 1985—
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument modify the provisions of this Part.
(2)Regulations which—
(a)add to the classes of documents required to be prepared, laid before the company in general meeting or delivered to the registrar,
(b)restrict the classes of company which have the benefit of any exemption, exception or special provision,
(c)require additional matter to be included in a document of any class, or
(d)otherwise render the requirements of this Part more onerous,
shall not be made unless a draft of the instrument containing the regulations has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
(3)Otherwise, a statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4)Regulations under this section may—
(a)make different provision for different cases or classes of case,
(b)repeal and re-enact provisions with modifications of form or arrangement, whether or not they are modified in substance,
(c)make consequential amendments or repeals in other provisions of this Act, or in other enactments, and
(d)contain such transitional and other incidental and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(5)Any modification by regulations under this section of section 258 or Schedule 10A (parent and subsidiary undertakings) does not apply for the purposes of enactments outside the Companies Acts unless the regulations so provide.”.
(1)The following section is inserted in Part VII of the M25Companies Act 1985—
(1)The expressions “parent undertaking” and “subsidiary undertaking” in this Part shall be construed as follows; and a “parent company” means a parent undertaking which is a company.
(2)An undertaking is a parent undertaking in relation to another undertaking, a subsidiary undertaking, if—
(a)it holds a majority of the voting rights in the undertaking, or
(b)it is a member of the undertaking and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board of directors, or
(c)it has the right to exercise a dominant influence over the undertaking—
(i)by virtue of provisions contained in the undertaking’s memorandum or articles, or
(ii)by virtue of a control contract, or
(d)it is a member of the undertaking and controls alone, pursuant to an agreement with other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in the undertaking.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) an undertaking shall be treated as a member of another undertaking—
(a)if any of its subsidiary undertakings is a member of that undertaking, or
(b)if any shares in that other undertaking are held by a person acting on behalf of the undertaking or any of its subsidiary undertakings.
(4)An undertaking is also a parent undertaking in relation to another undertaking, a subsidiary undertaking, if it has a participating interest in the undertaking and—
(a)it actually exercises a dominant influence over it, or
(b)it and the subsidiary undertaking are managed on a unified basis.
(5)A parent undertaking shall be treated as the parent undertaking of undertakings in relation to which any of its subsidiary undertakings are, or are to be treated as, parent undertakings; and references to its subsidiary undertakings shall be construed accordingly.
(6)Schedule 10A contains provisions explaining expressions used in this section and otherwise supplementing this section.”.
(2)Schedule 9 to this Act (parent and subsidiary undertakings: supplementary provisions) is inserted after Schedule 10 to the M26Companies Act 1985, as Schedule 10A.
The following sections are inserted in Part VII of the M27Companies Act 1985—
(1)In this Part “undertaking” means—
(a)a body corporate or partnership, or
(b)an unincorporated association carrying on a trade or business, with or without a view to profit.
(2)In this Part references to shares—
(a)in relation to an undertaking with a share capital, are to allotted shares;
(b)in relation to an undertaking with capital but no share capital, are to rights to share in the capital of the undertaking; and
(c)in relation to an undertaking without capital, are to interests—
(i)conferring any right to share in the profits or liability to contribute to the losses of the undertaking, or
(ii)giving rise to an obligation to contribute to the debts or expenses of the undertaking in the event of a winding up.
(3)Other expressions appropriate to companies shall be construed, in relation to an undertaking which is not a company, as references to the corresponding persons, officers, documents or organs, as the case may be, appropriate to undertakings of that description.
This is subject to provision in any specific context providing for the translation of such expressions.
(4)References in this Part to “fellow subsidiary undertakings” are to undertakings which are subsidiary undertakings of the same parent undertaking but are not parent undertakings or subsidiary undertakings of each other.
(5)In this Part “group undertaking”, in relation to an undertaking, means an undertaking which is—
(a)a parent undertaking or subsidiary undertaking of that undertaking, or
(b)a subsidiary undertaking of any parent undertaking of that undertaking.
(1)In this Part a “participating interest” means an interest held by an undertaking in the shares of another undertaking which it holds on a long-term basis for the purpose of securing a contribution to its activities by the exercise of control or influence arising from or related to that interest.
(2)A holding of 20 per cent. or more of the shares of an undertaking shall be presumed to be a participating interest unless the contrary is shown.
(3)The reference in subsection (1) to an interest in shares includes—
(a)an interest which is convertible into an interest in shares, and
(b)an option to acquire shares or any such interest;
and an interest or option falls within paragraph (a) or (b) notwithstanding that the shares to which it relates are, until the conversion or the exercise of the option, unissued.
(4)For the purposes of this section an interest held on behalf of an undertaking shall be treated as held by it.
(5)For the purposes of this section as it applies in relation to the expression “participating interest” in section 258(4) (definition of “subsidiary undertaking”)—
(a)there shall be attributed to an undertaking any interests held by any of its subsidiary undertakings, and
(b)the references in subsection (1) to the purpose and activities of an undertaking include the purposes and activities of any of its subsidiary undertakings and of the group as a whole.
(6)In the balance sheet and profit and loss formats set out in Part I of Schedule 4, “participating interest” does not include an interest in a group undertaking.
(7)For the purposes of this section as it applies in relation to the expression “participating interest”—
(a)in those formats as they apply in relation to group accounts, and
(b)in paragraph 20 of Schedule 4A (group accounts: undertakings to be accounted for as associated undertakings),
the references in subsections (1) to (4) to the interest held by, and the purposes and activities of, the undertaking concerned shall be construed as references to the interest held by, and the purposes and activities of, the group (within the meaning of paragraph 1 of that Schedule).
(1)Information required by this Part to be given in notes to a company’s annual accounts may be contained in the accounts or in a separate document annexed to the accounts.
(2)References in this Part to a company’s annual accounts, or to a balance sheet or profit and loss account, include notes to the accounts giving information which is required by any provision of this Act, and required or allowed by any such provision to be given in a note to company accounts.
(1)In this Part—
“annual accounts” means—
(a)the individual accounts required by section 226, and
(b)any group accounts required by section 227,
(but see also section 230 (treatment of individual profit and loss account where group accounts prepared));
“annual report”, in relation to a company, means the directors’ report required by section 234;
“balance sheet date” means the date as at which the balance sheet was made up;
“capitalisation”, in relation to work or costs, means treating that work or those costs as a fixed asset;
“credit institution” means an undertaking carrying on a deposit-taking business within the meaning of the Banking Act 1987;
“fixed assets” means assets of a company which are intended for use on a continuing basis in the company’s activities, and “current assets” means assets not intended for such use;
“group” means a parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings;
“included in the consolidation”, in relation to group accounts, or “included in consolidated group accounts”, means that the undertaking is included in the accounts by the method of full (and not proportional) consolidation, and references to an undertaking excluded from consolidation shall be construed accordingly;
“purchase price”, in relation to an asset of a company or any raw materials or consumables used in the production of such an asset, includes any consideration (whether in cash or otherwise) given by the company in respect of that asset or those materials or consumables, as the case may be;
“qualified”, in relation to an auditors’ report, means that the report does not state the auditors’ unqualified opinion that the accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with this Act or, in the case of an undertaking not required to prepare accounts in accordance with this Act, under any corresponding legislation under which it is required to prepare accounts;
“true and fair view” refers—
(a)in the case of individual accounts, to the requirement of section 226(2), and
(b)in the case of group accounts, to the requirement of section 227(3);
“turnover”, in relation to a company, means the amounts derived from the provision of goods and services falling within the company’s ordinary activities, after deduction of—
trade discounts,
value added tax, and
any other taxes based on the amounts so derived.
(2)In the case of an undertaking not trading for profit, any reference in this Part to a profit and loss account is to an income and expenditure account; and references to profit and loss and, in relation to group accounts, to a consolidated profit and loss account shall be construed accordingly.
(3)References in this Part to “realised profits” and “realised losses”, in relation to a company’s accounts, are to such profits or losses of the company as fall to be treated as realised in accordance with principles generally accepted, at the time when the accounts are prepared, with respect to the determination for accounting purposes of realised profits or losses.
This is without prejudice to—
(a)the construction of any other expression (where appropriate) by reference to accepted accounting principles or practice, or
(b)any specific provision for the treatment of profits or losses of any description as realised.
The following Table shows the provisions of this Part defining or otherwise explaining expressions used in this Part (other than expressions used only in the same section or paragraph)—
accounting reference date and accounting reference period | section 224 |
accounting standards and applicable accounting standards | section 256 |
annual accounts | |
(generally) | section 262(1) |
(includes notes to the accounts) | section 262(2) |
annual report | section 262(1) |
associated undertaking (in Schedule 4A) | paragraph 20 of that Schedule |
balance sheet (includes notes) | section 261(2) |
balance sheet date | section 262(1) |
banking group | section 255A(3) |
capitalisation (in relation to work or costs) | section 262(1) |
credit institution | section 262(1) |
current assets | section 262(1) |
fellow subsidiary undertaking | section 259(4) |
financial year | section 223 |
fixed assets | section 262(1) |
group | section 262(1) |
group undertaking | section 259(5) |
historical cost accounting rules (in Schedule 4) | paragraph 29 of that Schedule |
included in the consolidation and related expressions | section 262(1) |
individual accounts | section 262(1) |
insurance group | section 255A(4) |
land of freehold tenure and land of leasehold tenure (in relation to Scotland) | |
—in Schedule 4 | paragraph 36 of that Schedule |
—in Schedule 9 | paragraph 93 of that Schedule |
lease, long lease and short lease | |
—in Schedule 4 | paragraph 83 of that Schedule |
—in Schedule 9 | paragraph 34 of that Schedule |
listed investment | |
—in Schedule 4 | paragraph 84 of that Schedule |
—in Schedule 9 | paragraph 33 of that Schedule |
notes to the accounts | section 261(1) |
parent undertaking (and parent company) | section 258 and Schedule 10A |
participating interest | section 260 |
pension costs (in Schedule 4) | paragraph 94(2) and (3) of that Schedule |
period allowed for laying and delivering accounts and reports | section 244 |
profit and loss account | |
(includes notes) | section 261(2) |
(in relation to a company not | section 261(2) |
trading for profit) | |
provision | |
—in Schedule 4 | paragraphs 88 and 89 of that Schedule |
—in Schedule 9 | paragraph 32 of that Schedule |
purchase price | section 262(1) |
qualified | section 262(1) |
realised losses and realised profits | section 262(3) |
reserve (in Schedule 9) | paragraph 32 of that Schedule |
shares | section 259(2) |
social security costs (in Schedule 4) | paragraph 94(1) and (3) of that Schedule |
special provisions for banking and insurance companies and groups | sections 255 and 255A |
subsidiary undertaking | section 258 and Schedule 10A |
true and fair view | section 262(1) |
turnover | section 262(1) |
undertaking and related expressions | section 259(1) to (3)”. |
The enactments specified in Schedule 10 have effect with the amendments specified there, which are consequential on the amendments made by the preceding provisions of this Part.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. II (ss. 24-54) applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (20.10.1993) by 1993 c. xi, ss. 1(2), 6(4)
Pt. II (ss. 24-54) applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (21.7.1993) by S.I. 1993/1820, reg. 4, Sch. para.3
Pt. II (ss. 24-54) applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (19.12.1993) by S.I. 1993/3245, reg.3(5)
Pt. II (ss. 24-54) applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (28.5.1994) by S.I. 1994/1440, art. 37(1)(2) (with arts. 38, 39)
Pt. 2 (ss. 24-54) applied (with modifications) (31.12.2004) by The Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd's Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3219), regs. {3(6)}, {4(5)}
C2Pt. 2 (ss. 24-54) applied (31.12.2004) by The Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd's Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3219), reg. 14(1)
C3Pt. II (ss. 24-54) extended (9.2.2005) by The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) (First General System) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/18), reg. 11(6) (with reg. 3)
C4Pt. 2 (ss. 24-54): functions of the Secretary of State transferred to the designated body (E.W.S) (5.9.2005) by The Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2337), art. 3 (with arts. 7-10)
(1)The main purposes of this Part are to secure that only persons who are properly supervised and appropriately qualified are appointed company auditors, and that audits by persons so appointed are carried out properly and with integrity and with a proper degree of independence.
(2)A “company auditor” means a person appointed as auditor under Chapter V of Part XI of the M28Companies Act 1985; and the expressions “company audit” and “company audit work” shall be construed accordingly.
Commencement Information
I3S. 24 partly in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990; wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)A person is eligible for appointment as a company auditor only if he—
(a)is a member of a recognised supervisory body, and
(b)is eligible for the appointment under the rules of that body.
(2)An individual or a firm may be appointed a company auditor.
(3)In the cases to which section 34 applies (individuals retaining only 1967 Act authorisation) a person’s eligibility for appointment as a company auditor is restricted as mentioned in that section.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5S. 25 applied (S.) (17.7.1995) by 1994 c. 39, s. 88(2) (with s. 74(4)); S.I. 1995/1898, art. 2(a),Sch.
S. 25 applied (6.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/2827, reg. 63, Sch. 6 para.1
Commencement Information
I4S. 25 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
(1)The following provisions apply to the appointment as company auditor of a partnership constituted under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or under the law of any other country or territory in which a partnership is not a legal person.
(2)The appointment is (unless a contrary intention appears) an appointment of the partnership as such and not of the partners.
(3)Where the partnership ceases, the appointment shall be treated as extending to—
(a)any partnership which succeeds to the practice of that partnership and is eligible for the appointment, and
(b)any person who succeeds to that practice having previously carried it on in partnership and is eligible for the appointment.
(4)For this purpose a partnership shall be regarded as succeeding to the practice of another partnership only if the members of the successor partnership are substantially the same as those of the former partnership; and a partnership or other person shall be regarded as succeeding to the practice of a partnership only if it or he succeeds to the whole or substantially the whole of the business of the former partnership.
(5)Where the partnership ceases and no person succeeds to the appointment under subsection (3), the appointment may with the consent of the company be treated as extending to a partnership or other person eligible for the appointment who succeeds to the business of the former partnership or to such part of it as is agreed by the company shall be treated as comprising the appointment.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 26 extended (1.10.1991) by S.I. 1991/1997, reg.3
Commencement Information
I5S. 26 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
(1)A person is ineligible for appointment as company auditor of a company if he is—
(a)an officer or employee of the company, or
(b)a partner or employee of such a person, or a partnership of which such a person is a partner,
or if he is ineligible by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) for appointment as company auditor of any associated undertaking of the company.
For this purpose an auditor of a company shall not be regarded as an officer or employee of the company.
(2)A person is also ineligible for appointment as company auditor of a company if there exists between him or any associate of his and the company or any associated undertaking a connection of any such description as may be specified by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
The regulations may make different provisions for different cases.
(3)In this section “associated undertaking”, in relation to a company, means—
(a)a parent undertaking or subsidiary undertaking of the company, or
(b)a subsidiary undertaking of any parent undertaking of the company.
(4)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7S. 27 amended (6.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/2827, reg. 63, Sch. 6 para. 2(3)
C8S. 27 applied (temp. from 15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2974), regs. 4(6), 9, Sch. 1 para. 4(3)
Commencement Information
I6S. 27 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
(1)No person shall act as a company auditor if he is ineligible for appointment to the office.
(2)If during his term of office a company auditor becomes ineligible for appointment to the office, he shall thereupon vacate office and shall forthwith give notice in writing to the company concerned that he has vacated it by reason of ineligibility.
(3)A person who acts as company auditor in contravention of subsection (1), or fails to give notice of vacating his office as required by subsection (2), is guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine, and
(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.
(4)In the case of continued contravention he is liable on a second or subsequent summary conviction (instead of the fine mentioned in subsection (3)(b)) to a fine not exceeding one-tenth of the statutory maximum in respect of each day on which the contravention is continued.
(5)In proceedings against a person for an offence under this section it is a defence for him to show that he did not know and had no reason to believe that he was, or had become, ineligible for appointment.
Commencement Information
I7S. 28 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 subject to transitional provisions see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, arts. 2(1)(a),3
(1)Where a person appointed company auditor was, for any part of the period during which the audit was conducted, ineligible for appointment to that office, the Secretary of State may direct the company concerned to retain a person eligible for appointment as auditor of the company—
(a)to audit the relevant accounts again, or
(b)to review the first audit and to report (giving his reasons) whether a second audit is needed;
and the company shall comply with such a direction within 21 days of its being given.
(2)If a second audit is recommended the company shall forthwith take such steps as are necessary to comply with the recommendation.
(3)Where a direction is given under this section, the Secretary of State shall send a copy of the direction to the registrar of companies; and the company shall within 21 days of receiving any report under subsection (1)(b) send a copy of it to the registrar of companies.
The provisions of the M29Companies Act 1985 relating to the delivery of documents to the registrar apply for the purposes of this subsection.
(4)Any statutory or other provisions applying in relation to the first audit shall apply, so far as practicable, in relation to a second audit under this section.
(5)If a company fails to comply with the requirements of this section, it is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; and in the case of continued contravention it is liable on a second or subsequent summary conviction (instead of the fine mentioned above) to a fine not exceeding one-tenth of the statutory maximum in respect of each day on which the contravention is continued.
(6)A direction under this section is, on the application of the Secretary of State, enforceable by injunction or, in Scotland, by an order under section 45 of the M30Court of Session Act 1988.
(7)If a person accepts an appointment, or continues to act, as company auditor at a time when he knows he is ineligible, the company concerned may recover from him any costs incurred by it in complying with the requirements of this section.
Commencement Information
I8S. 29 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)In this Part a “supervisory body” means a body established in the United Kingdom (whether a body corporate or an unincorporated association) which maintains and enforces rules as to—
(a)the eligibility of persons to seek appointment as company auditors, and
(b)the conduct of company audit work,
which are binding on persons seeking appointment or acting as company auditors either because they are members of that body or because they are otherwise subject to its control.
(2)In this Part references to the members of a supervisory body are to the persons who, whether or not members of the body, are subject to its rules in seeking appointment or acting as company auditors.
(3)In this Part references to the rules of a supervisory body are to the rules (whether or not laid down by the body itself) which the body has power to enforce and which are relevant for the purposes of this Part.
This includes rules relating to the admission and expulsion of members of the body, so far as relevant for the purposes of this Part.
(4)In this Part references to guidance issued by a supervisory body are to guidance issued or any recommendation made by it to all or any class of its members or persons seeking to become members which would, if it were a rule, fall within subsection (3).
(5)The provisions of Parts I and II of Schedule 11 have effect with respect to the recognition of supervisory bodies for the purposes of this Part.
(1)A person holds an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Part if—
(a)he was, by virtue of membership of a body recognised for the purposes of section 389(1)(a) of the M31Companies Act 1985, qualified for appointment as auditor of a company under that section immediately before 1st January 1990 and immediately before the commencement of section 25 above,
(b)he holds a recognised professional qualification obtained in the United Kingdom, or
(c)he holds an approved overseas qualification and satisfies any additional educational requirements applicable in accordance with section 33(4).
(2)A person who, immediately before 1st January 1990 and immediately before the commencement of section 25 above, was qualified for appointment as auditor of a company under section 389 of the M32Companies Act 1985 otherwise than by virtue of membership of a body recognised for the purposes of section 389(1)(a)—
(a)shall be treated as holding an appropriate qualification for twelve months from the day on which section 25 comes into force, and
(b)shall continue to be so treated if within that period he notifies the Secretary of State that he wishes to retain the benefit of his qualification.
The notice shall be in writing and shall contain such information as the Secretary of State may require.
(3)If a person fails to give such notice within the time allowed he may apply to the Secretary of State, giving such information as would have been required in connection with a notice, and the Secretary of State may, if he is satisfied—
(a)that there was good reason why the applicant did not give notice in time, and
(b)that the applicant genuinely intends to practise as an auditor in Great Britain,
direct that he shall be treated as holding an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Part.
(4)A person who—
(a)began before 1st January 1990 a course of study or practical training leading to a professional qualification in accountancy offered by a body established in the United Kingdom, and
(b)obtained that qualification on or after that date and before1st January 1996,
shall be treated as holding an appropriate qualification if the qualification is approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this subsection.
(5)Approval shall not be given unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the body concerned has or, as the case may be, had at the relevant time adequate arrangements to ensure that the qualification is, or was, awarded only to persons educated and trained to a standard equivalent to that required in the case of a recognised professional qualification.
(6)A person shall not be regarded as holding an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Part except in the above cases.
Commencement Information
I9S. 31 wholly in force; s. 31 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)In this Part a “qualifying body” means a body established in the United Kingdom (whether a body corporate or an unincorporated association) which offers a professional qualification in accountancy.
(2)In this Part references to the rules of a qualifying body are to the rules (whether or not laid down by the body itself) which the body has power to enforce and which are relevant for the purposes of this Part.
This includes rules relating to—
(a)admission to or expulsion from a course of study leading to a qualification,
(b)the award or deprivation of a qualification, or
(c)the approval of a person for the purposes of giving practical training or the withdrawal of such approval,
so far as relevant for the purposes of this Part.
(3)In this Part references to guidance issued by any such body are to any guidance which the body issues, or any recommendation it makes to all or any class of persons holding or seeking to hold a qualification, or approved or seeking to be approved by the body for the purpose of giving practical training, which would, if it were a rule, fall within subsection (2).
(4)The provisions of Parts I and II of Schedule 12 have effect with respect to the recognition for the purposes of this Part of a professional qualification offered by a qualifying body.
(1)The Secretary of State may declare that persons who—
(a)are qualified to audit accounts under the law of a specified country or territory outside the United Kingdom, or
(b)hold a specified professional qualification in accountancy recognised under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom,
shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as holding an approved overseas qualification.
(2)A qualification shall not be so approved by the Secretary of State unless he is satisfied that it affords an assurance of professional competence equivalent to that afforded by a recognised professional qualification.
(3)In exercising the power conferred by subsection (1) the Secretary of State may have regard to the extent to which persons—
(a)eligible under this Part for appointment as a company auditor, or
(b)holding a professional qualification recognised under this Part,
are recognised by the law of the country or territory in question as qualified to audit accounts there.
(4)The Secretary of State may direct that a person holding an approved overseas qualification shall not be treated as holding an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Part unless he holds such additional educational qualifications as the Secretary of State may specify for the purpose of ensuring that such persons have an adequate knowledge of the law and practice in the United Kingdom relevant to the audit of accounts.
(5)Different directions may be given in relation to different qualifications.
(6)The Secretary of State may if he thinks fit, having regard to the considerations mentioned in subsections (2) and (3), withdraw his approval of an overseas qualification in relation to persons becoming qualified as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), or obtaining such a qualification as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b), after such date as he may specify.
(1)A person whose only appropriate qualification is that he retains an authorisation granted by the Board of Trade or the Secretary of State under section 13(1) of the M33Companies Act 1967 is eligible only for appointment as auditor of an unquoted company.
(2)A company is “unquoted” if, at the time of the person’s appointment, no shares or debentures of the company, or of a parent undertaking of which it is a subsidiary undertaking, have been quoted on a stock exchange (in Great Britain or elsewhere) or offered (whether in Great Britain or elsewhere) to the public for subscription or purchase.
(3)This section does not authorise the appointment of such a person as auditor of a company that carries on business as the promoter of a trading stamp scheme within the meaning of the M34Trading Stamps Act 1964.
(4)References to a person eligible for appointment as company auditor under section 25 in enactments relating to eligibility for appointment as auditor of a body other than a company do not include a person to whom this section applies.
Commencement Information
I10S. 34 wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)The Secretary of State shall make regulations requiring the keeping of a register of—
(a)the individuals and firms eligible for appointment as company auditor, and
(b)the individuals holding an appropriate qualification who are responsible for company audit work on behalf of such firms.
(2)The regulations shall provide that each person’s entry in the register shall give—
(a)his name and address, and
(b)in the case of a person eligible as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), the name of the relevant supervisory body,
together with such other information as may be specified by the regulations.
(3)The regulations may impose such obligations as the Secretary of State thinks fit—
(a)on recognised supervisory bodies,
(b)on persons eligible for appointment as company auditor, and
(c)on any person with whom arrangements are made by one or more recognised supervisory bodies with respect to the keeping of the register.
(4)The regulations may include provision—
(a)requiring the register to be open to inspection at such times and places as may be specified in the regulations or determined in accordance with them,
(b)enabling a person to require a certified copy of an entry in the register, and
(c)authorising the charging of fees for inspection, or the provision of copies, of such reasonable amount as may be specified in the regulations or determined in accordance with them;
and may contain such other supplementary and incidental provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(6)The obligations imposed by regulations under this section on such persons as are mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (c) are enforceable on the application of the Secretary of State by injunction or, in Scotland, by an order under section 45 of the M35Court of Session Act 1988.
Commencement Information
I11S. 35 wholly in force at 26. 6. 1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1452, art. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)The Secretary of State shall make regulations requiring recognised supervisory bodies to keep and make available to the public the following information with respect to the firms eligible under their rules for appointment as a company auditor—
(a)in relation to a body corporate, the name and address of each person who is a director of the body or holds any shares in it,
(b)in relation to a partnership, the name and address of each partner,
and such other information as may be specified in the regulations.
(2)The regulations may impose such obligations as the Secretary of State thinks fit—
(a)on recognised supervisory bodies,
(b)on persons eligible for appointment as company auditor, and
(c)on any person with whom arrangements are made by one or more recognised supervisory bodies with respect to the keeping of the information.
(3)The regulations may include provision—
(a)requiring that the information be open to inspection at such times and places as may be specified in the regulations or determined in accordance with them,
(b)enabling a person to require a certified copy of the information or any part of it, and
(c)authorising the charging of fees for inspection, or the provision of copies, of such reasonable amount as may be specified in the regulations or determined in accordance with them;
and may contain such other supplementary and incidental provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(4)The regulations may make different provision in relation to different descriptions of information and may contain such other supplementary and incidental provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(6)The obligations imposed by regulations under this section on such persons as are mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (c) are enforceable on the application of the Secretary of State by injunction or, in Scotland, by an order under section 45 of the M36Court of Session Act 1988.
Commencement Information
I12S. 36 wholly in force at 26. 6. 1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1452, art. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)The Secretary of State may require a recognised supervisory or qualifying body—
(a)to notify him forthwith of the occurrence of such events as he may specify in writing and to give him such information in respect of those events as is so specified;
(b)to give him, at such times or in respect of such periods as he may specify in writing, such information as is so specified.
(2)The notices and information required to be given shall be such as the Secretary of State may reasonably require for the exercise of his functions under this Part.
(3)The Secretary of State may require information given under this section to be given in a specified form or verified in a specified manner.
(4)Any notice or information required to be given under this section shall be given in writing unless the Secretary of State specifies or approves some other manner.
(1)The Secretary of State may by notice in writing require a recognised supervisory or qualifying body to give him such information as he may reasonably require for the exercise of his functions under this Part.
(2)The Secretary of State may require that any information which he requires under this section shall be given within such reasonable time and verified in such manner as he may specify.
(1)If at any time it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a)in the case of a recognised supervisory body, that any requirement of Schedule 11 is not satisfied,
(b)in the case of a recognised professional qualification, that any requirement of Schedule 12 is not satisfied, or
(c)that a recognised supervisory or qualifying body has failed to comply with an obligation to which it is subject by virtue of this Part,
he may, instead of revoking the relevant recognition order, make an application to the court under this section.
(2)If on such application the court decides that the subsection or requirement in question is not satisfied or, as the case may be, that the body has failed to comply with the obligation in question it may order the supervisory or qualifying body in question to take such steps as the court directs for securing that the subsection or requirement is satisfied or that the obligation is complied with.
(3)The jurisdiction conferred by this section is exercisable by the High Court and the Court of Session.
(1)If it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a)that any action proposed to be taken by a recognised supervisory or qualifying body, or a body established by order under section 46, would be incompatible with Community obligations or any other international obligations of the United Kingdom, or
(b)that any action which that body has power to take is required for the purpose of implementing any such obligations,
he may direct the body not to take or, as the case may be, to take the action in question.
(2)A direction may include such supplementary or incidental requirements as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient.
(3)A direction under this section is enforceable on the application of the Secretary of State by injunction or, in Scotland, by an order under section 45 of the M37Court of Session Act 1988.
Marginal Citations
(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)for the purposes of or in connection with any application under this Part, or
(b)in purported compliance with any requirement imposed on him by or under this Part,
he furnishes information which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular.
(2)It is an offence for a person whose name does not appear on the register of auditors kept under regulations under section 35 to describe himself as a registered auditor or so to hold himself out as to indicate, or be reasonably understood to indicate, that he is a registered auditor.
(3)It is an offence for a body which is not a recognised supervisory or qualifying body to describe itself as so recognised or so to describe itself or hold itself out as to indicate, or be reasonably understood to indicate, that it is so recognised.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both;
(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.
Where a contravention of subsection (2) or (3) involves a public display of the offending description, the maximum fine that may be imposed is (in place of that mentioned above) an amount equal to level 5 on the standard scale multiplied by the number of days for which the display has continued.
(6)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) or (3) to show that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.
Commencement Information
I13S. 41 wholly in force; s. 41 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
(1)Where an offence under this Part committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(2)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as to a director of a body corporate.
(3)Where an offence under this Part committed by a partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, he as well as the partnership is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(4)Where an offence under this Part committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer of the association or any member of its governing body, he as well as the association is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(1)An information relating to an offence under this Part which is triable by a magistrates’ court in England and Wales may be so tried on an information laid at any time within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Secretary of State to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge.
(2)Proceedings in Scotland for an offence under this Part may be commenced at any time within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate’s opinion to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge or, where such evidence was reported to him by the Secretary of State, within twelve months after the date on which it came to the knowledge of the latter.
For the purposes of this subsection proceedings shall be deemed to be commenced on the date on which a warrant to apprehend or to cite the accused is granted, if the warrant is executed without undue delay.
(3)Subsection (1) does not authorise the trial of an information laid, and subsection (2) does not authorise the commencement of proceedings, more than three years after the commission of the offence.
(4)For the purposes of this section a certificate of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Lord Advocate or the Secretary of State as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to his knowledge is conclusive evidence.
(5)Nothing in this section affects proceedings within the time limits prescribed by section 127(1) of the M38Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 or section 331 of the M39Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (the usual time limits for criminal proceedings).
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C9S. 43(1) modified (5.9.2005) by The Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2337), art. 10
C10S. 43(2) modified (5.9.2005) by The Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2337), art. 10
C11S. 43(4) modified (5.9.2005) by The Companies Act 1989 (Delegation) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2337), art. 10
Marginal Citations
(1)Summary proceedings for an offence under this Part may, without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this section, be taken against a body corporate or unincorporated association at any place at which it has a place of business and against an individual at any place where he is for the time being.
(2)Proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed under this Part by an unincorporated association shall be brought in the name of the association (and not in that of any of its members), and for the purposes of any such proceedings any rules of court relating to the service of documents apply as in relation to a body corporate.
(3)Section 33 of the M40Criminal Justice Act 1925 and Schedule 3 to the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (procedure on charge of offence against a corporation) apply in a case in which an unincorporated association is charged in England and Wales with an offence under this Part as they apply in the case of a corporation.
(4)In relation to proceedings on indictment in Scotland for an offence alleged to have been committed under this Part by an unincorporated association, [F1section 70 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995] (proceedings on indictment against bodies corporate) applies as if the association were a body corporate.
(5)A fine imposed on an unincorporated association on its conviction of such an offence shall be paid out of the funds of the association.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 44(4) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 74(2)
Marginal Citations
(1)An applicant for a recognition order under this Part shall pay such fee in respect of his application as may be prescribed; and no application shall be regarded as duly made unless this subsection is complied with.
(2)Every recognised supervisory or qualifying body shall pay such periodical fees to the Secretary of State as may be prescribed.
(3)In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State, which may make different provision for different cases or classes of case.
(4)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5)Fees received by the Secretary of State by virtue of this Part shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
Prospective
(1)The Secretary of State may by order (a “delegation order”) establish a body corporate to exercise his functions under this Part.
(2)A delegation order has the effect of transferring to the body established by it, subject to such exceptions and reservations as may be specified in the order, all the functions of the Secretary of State under this Part except—
[F2(a)such functions under Part I of Schedule 14 (prevention of restrictive practices) as are excepted by regulations under section 47, and]
(b)his functions in relation to the body itself;
and the order may also confer on the body such other functions supplementary or incidental to those transferred as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(3)Any transfer of the functions under the following provisions shall be subject to the reservation that they remain exercisable concurrently by the Secretary of State—
(a)section 38 (power to call for information), and
(b)section 40 (directions to comply with international obligations);
and any transfer of the function of refusing to approve an overseas qualification, or withdrawing such approval, on the grounds referred to in section 33(3) (lack of reciprocity) shall be subject to the reservation that the function is exercisable only with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(4)A delegation order may be amended or, if it appears to the Secretary of State that it is no longer in the public interest that the order should remain in force, revoked by a further order under this section.
(5)Where functions are transferred or resumed, the Secretary of State may by order confer or, as the case may be, take away such other functions supplementary or incidental to those transferred or resumed as appear to him to be appropriate.
(6)The provisions of Schedule 13 have effect with respect to the status, constitution and proceedings of a body established by a delegation order, the exercise by it of certain functions transferred to it and other supplementary matters.
(7)An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
(8)An order which has the effect of transferring or resuming any functions shall not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament; and any other description of order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Textual Amendments
F2S. 46(2)(a) ceased to have effect (1.5.2004) by virtue of The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 5, Sch. 2 para. 2(2) (with reg. 6(2))
(1)The Secretary of State may by order (a “delegation order”) establish a body corporate to exercise his functions under this Part.
(2)A delegation order has the effect of transferring to the body established by it, subject to such exceptions and reservations as may be specified in the order, all the functions of the Secretary of State under this Part except—
(a)such functions under Part I of Schedule 14 (prevention of restrictive practices) as are excepted by regulations under section 47, and
(b)his functions in relation to the body itself;
and the order may also confer on the body such other functions supplementary or incidental to those transferred as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(3)Any transfer of the functions under the following provisions shall be subject to the reservation that they remain exercisable concurrently by the Secretary of State—
(a)section 38 (power to call for information), and
(b)section 40 (directions to comply with international obligations);
and any transfer of the function of refusing to approve an overseas qualification, or withdrawing such approval, on the grounds referred to in section 33(3) (lack of reciprocity) shall be subject to the reservation that the function is exercisable only with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(4)A delegation order may be amended or, if it appears to the Secretary of State that it is no longer in the public interest that the order should remain in force, revoked by a further order under this section.
(5)Where functions are transferred or resumed, the Secretary of State may by order confer or, as the case may be, take away such other functions supplementary or incidental to those transferred or resumed as appear to him to be appropriate.
(6)The provisions of Schedule 13 have effect with respect to the status, constitution and proceedings of a body established by a delegation order, the exercise by it of certain functions transferred to it and other supplementary matters.
(7)An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
(8)An order which has the effect of transferring or resuming any functions shall not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament; and any other description of order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Valid from 01/01/2005
(1)The Secretary of State’s power to make a delegation order under section 46 which designates an existing body (see section 46(1A)(b)) is exercisable in accordance with this section.
(2)The Secretary of State may make such an order if it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a)that the body is willing and able to exercise the functions that would be transferred by the order; and
(b)that the body has arrangements in place relating to the exercise of those functions which are such as to be likely to ensure that the conditions in subsection (3) are met.
(3)The conditions are—
(a)that the functions in question will be exercised effectively; and
(b)where the delegation order is to contain any requirements or other provisions specified under subsection (4), that those functions will be exercised in accordance with any such requirements or provisions.
(4)The delegation order may contain such requirements or other provisions relating to the exercise of the functions by the designated body as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(5)An existing body—
(a)may be designated by a delegation order under section 46, and
(b)may accordingly exercise functions of the Secretary of State in pursuance of the order,
despite any involvement of the body in the exercise of any functions under arrangements within any of paragraphs 17, 18, 19(1) or 20(1) of Schedule 11.]
Textual Amendments
F3S. 46A inserted (1.1.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27), ss. 4, 65; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
(1)The provisions of Schedule 14 have effect with respect to certain matters relating to restrictive practices and competition law.
(2)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the discharge of the functions under paragraphs 1 to 7 of that Schedule when a delegation order is in force.
(3)The regulations may—
(a)except any function from the effect of the delegation order,
(b)modify any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2), and
(c)impose such duties on the body established by the delegation order, the Secretary of State and Director General of Fair Trading as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(4)The regulations shall contain such provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for reserving to him the decision—
(a)to refuse recognition on the ground mentioned in paragraph 1(3) of that Schedule, or
(b)to exercise the powers conferred by paragraph 6 of that Schedule.
(5)For that purpose the regulations may—
(a)prohibit the body from granting a recognition order without the leave of the Secretary of State, and
(b)empower the Secretary of State to direct the body to exercise its powers in such manner as may be specified in the direction.
(6)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)Neither a recognised supervisory body, nor any of its officers or employees or members of its governing body, shall be liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of functions to which this subsection applies, unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.
(2)Subsection (1) applies to the functions of the body so far as relating to, or to matters arising out of—
(a)such rules, practices, powers and arrangements of the body to which the requirements of Part II of Schedule 11 apply, or
(b)the obligations with which paragraph 16 of that Schedule requires the body to comply,
(c)any guidance issued by the body, or
(d)the obligations to which the body is subject by virtue of this Part.
(3)Neither a body established by a delegation order, nor any of its members, officers or employees, shall be liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of the functions exercisable by virtue of an order under section 46, unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.
(1)This section has effect in relation to any notice, direction or other document required or authorised by or under this Part to be given to or served on any person other than the Secretary of State.
(2)Any such document may be given to or served on the person in question—
(a)by delivering it to him,
(b)by leaving it at his proper address, or
(c)by sending it by post to him at that address.
(3)Any such document may—
(a)in the case of a body corporate, be given to or served on the secretary or clerk of that body;
(b)in the case of a partnership, be given to or served on any partner;
(c)in the case of an unincorporated association other than a partnership, be given to or served on any member of the governing body of the association.
(4)For the purposes of this section and section 7 of the M41Interpretation Act 1978 (service of documents by post) in its application to this section, the proper address of any person is his last known address (whether of his residence or of a place where he carries on business or is employed) and also—
(a)in the case of a person who is eligible under the rules of a recognised supervisory body for appointment as company auditor and who does not have a place of business in the United Kingdom, the address of that body;
(b)in the case of a body corporate, its secretary or its clerk, the address of its registered or principal office in the United Kingdom;
(c)in the case of an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) or a member of its governing body, its principal office in the United Kingdom.
Commencement Information
I14S. 49 wholly in force; s. 49 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make such amendments of enactments as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the provisions of this Part having effect in place of section 389 of the M42Companies Act 1985.
(2)That power extends to making such amendments as appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient of—
(a)enactments referring by name to the bodies of accountants recognised for the purposes of section 389(1)(a) of the Companies Act 1985, and
(b)enactments making with respect to other statutory auditors provision as to the matters dealt with in relation to company auditors by section 389 of the Companies Act 1985.
(3)The provision which may be made with respect to other statutory auditors includes provision as to—
(a)eligibility for the appointment,
(b)the effect of appointing a partnership which is not a legal person and the manner of exercise of the auditor’s rights in such a case, and
(c)ineligibility on the ground of lack of independence or any other ground.
(4)The regulations may contain such supplementary, incidental and transitional provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.
(5)The Secretary of State shall not make regulations under this section with respect to any statutory auditors without the consent of—
(a)the Minister responsible for their appointment or responsible for the body or person by, or in relation to whom, they are appointed, or
(b)if there is no such Minister, the person by whom they are appointed.
(6)In this section a “statutory auditor” means a person appointed auditor in pursuance of any enactment authorising or requiring the appointment of an auditor or auditors.
(7)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make such amendments of enactments as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of any change of name, merger or transfer of engagements affecting—
(a)a recognised supervisory or qualifying body under this Part, or
(b)a body of accountants referred to in, or approved, authorised or otherwise recognised for the purposes of, any other enactment.
(2)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)In this Part “associate”, in relation to a person, shall be construed as follows.
(2)In relation to an individual “associate” means—
(a)that individual’s spouse or minor child or step-child,
(b)any body corporate of which that individual is a director, and
(c)any employee or partner of that individual.
(3)In relation to a body corporate “associate” means—
(a)any body corporate of which that body is a director,
(b)any body corporate in the same group as that body, and
(c)any employee or partner of that body or of any body corporate in the same group.
(4)In relation to a Scottish firm, or a partnership constituted under the law of any other country or territory in which a partnership is a legal person, “associate” means—
(a)any body corporate of which the firm is a director,
(b)any employee of or partner in the firm, and
(c)any person who is an associate of a partner in the firm.
(5)In relation to a partnership constituted under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or the law of any other country or territory in which a partnership is not a legal person, “associate” means any person who is an associate of any of the partners.
Commencement Information
I15S. 52 wholly in force; s. 52 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
(1)In this Part—
“address” means—
(a)in relation to an individual, his usual residential or business address, and
(b)in relation to a firm, its registered or principal office in Great Britain;
“company” means any company or other body to which section 384 of the M43Companies Act 1985 (duty to appoint auditors) applies;
“director”, in relation to a body corporate, includes any person occupying in relation to it the position of a director (by whatever name called) and any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions (not being advice given in a professional capacity) the directors of the body are accustomed to act;
“enactment” includes an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the M44Interpretation Act 1978;
“firm” means a body corporate or a partnership;
“group”, in relation to a body corporate, means the body corporate, any other body corporate which is its holding company or subsidiary and any other body corporate which is a subsidiary of that holding company; and
“holding company” and “subsidiary” have the meaning given by section 736 of the M45Companies Act 1985;
“parent undertaking” and “subsidiary undertaking” have the same meaning as in Part VII of the Companies Act 1985.
(2)For the purposes of this Part a body shall be regarded as “established in the United Kingdom” if and only if—
(a)it is incorporated or formed under the law of the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom, or
(b)its central management and control is exercised in the United Kingdom;
and any reference to a qualification “obtained in the United Kingdom” is to a qualification obtained from such a body.
Commencement Information
I16S. 53 wholly in force; s. 53 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1. 10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
Marginal Citations
The following Table shows provisions defining or otherwise explaining expressions used in this Part (other than provisions defining or explaining an expression used only in the same section)—
address | section 53(1) |
appropriate qualification | section 31 |
associate | section 52 |
company | section 53(1) |
company auditor, company audit and company audit work | section 24(2) |
delegation order | section 46 |
director (of a body corporate) | section 53(1) |
Director (in Schedule 14) | paragraph 1(1) of that Schedule |
enactment | section 53(1) |
established in the United Kingdom | section 53(2) |
firm | section 53(1) |
group (in relation to a body corporate) | section 53(1) |
guidance | |
–of a qualifying body | section 32(3) |
–of a supervisory body | section 30(4) |
holding company | section 53(1) |
member (of a supervisory body) | section 30(2) |
obtained in the United Kingdom | section 53(2) |
parent undertaking | section 53(1) |
purposes of this Part | section 24(1) |
qualifying body | section 32(1) |
recognised | |
–in relation to a professional qualification | section 32(4) and Schedule 12 |
–in relation to a qualifying body | paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 12 |
–in relation to a supervisory body | section 30(5) and Schedule 11 |
rules | |
–of a qualifying body | section 32(2) |
–of a supervisory body | section 30(3) |
subsidiary and subsidiary undertaking | section 53(1) |
supervisory body | section 30(1) |
Commencement Information
I17S. 54 wholly in force; s. 54 in force for certain purposes at 1.3.1990 see S.I. 1990/142 and wholly in force at 1.10.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)
In section 432 of the M46Companies Act 1985 (appointment of inspectors by Secretary of State), after subsection (2) (investigation of circumstances suggesting misconduct) insert—
“(2A)Inspectors may be appointed under subsection (2) on terms that any report they may make is not for publication; and in such a case, the provisions of section 437(3) (availability and publication of inspectors’ reports) do not apply.”.
(1)Section 434 of the Companies Act 1985 (production of documents and evidence to inspectors) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) (duty of officers to assist inspectors), for “books and documents” substitute “documents”.
(3)For subsection (2)(power to require production of documents, attendance or other assistance) substitute—
“(2)If the inspectors consider that an officer or agent of the company or other body corporate, or any other person, is or may be in possession of information relating to a matter which they believe to be relevant to the investigation, they may require him—
(a)to produce to them any documents in his custody or power relating to that matter,
(b)to attend before them, and
(c)otherwise to give them all assistance in connection with the investigation which he is reasonably able to give;
and it is that person’s duty to comply with the requirement.”.
(4)For subsection (3) (power to examine on oath) substitute—
“(3)An inspector may for the purposes of the investigation examine any person on oath, and may administer an oath accordingly.”.
(5)After subsection (5) insert—
“(6)In this section “documents” includes information recorded in any form; and, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, the power to require its production includes power to require the production of a copy of the information in legible form.”.
(6)In section 436 of the M47Companies Act 1985 (obstruction of inspectors treated as contempt of court), for subsections (1) and (2) substitute—
“(1)If any person—
(a)fails to comply with section 434(1)(a) or (c),
(b)refuses to comply with a requirement under section 434(1)(b) or (2), or
(c)refuses to answer any question put to him by the inspectors for the purposes of the investigation,
the inspectors may certify that fact in writing to the court.”.
In section 437 of the Companies Act 1985 (inspectors’ reports), after subsection (1A) insert—
“(1B)If it appears to the Secretary of State that matters have come to light in the course of the inspectors’ investigation which suggest that a criminal offence has been committed, and those matters have been referred to the appropriate prosecuting authority, he may direct the inspectors to take no further steps in the investigation or to take only such further steps as are specified in the direction.
(1C)Where an investigation is the subject of a direction under subsection (1B), the inspectors shall make a final report to the Secretary of State only where—
(a)they were appointed under section 432(1) (appointment in pursuance of an order of the court), or
(b)the Secretary of State directs them to do so.”.
In section 438 of the Companies Act 1985 (power to bring civil proceedings on the company’s behalf), for the opening words of subsection (1) down to “it appears to the Secretary of State” substitute “If from any report made or information obtained under this Part it appears to the Secretary of State”.
(1)Section 439 of the Companies Act 1985 (expenses of investigating a company’s affairs) is amended as follows.
(2)For subsection (1) substitute—
“(1)The expenses of an investigation under any of the powers conferred by this Part shall be defrayed in the first instance by the Secretary of State, but he may recover those expenses from the persons liable in accordance with this section.
There shall be treated as expenses of the investigation, in particular, such reasonable sums as the Secretary of State may determine in respect of general staff costs and overheads.”.
(3)In subsection (4) for “the inspectors’ report” substitute “ an inspectors’ report ”.
(4)For subsection (5) substitute—
“(5)Where inspectors were appointed—
(a)under section 431, or
(b)on an application under section 442(3),
the applicant or applicants for the investigation is or are liable to such extent (if any) as the Secretary of State may direct.”.
(1)Section 440 of the M48Companies Act 1985 (power of Secretary of State to present winding-up petition) is repealed; but the following amendments have the effect of re-enacting that provision, with modifications.
(2)In section 124(4) of the M49Insolvency Act 1986 (application by Secretary of State for company to be wound up by the court), for paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b)in a case falling within section 124A below.”.
(3)After that section insert—
(1)Where it appears to the Secretary of State from—
(a)any report made or information obtained under Part XIV of the Companies Act 1985 (company investigations, &c.),
(b)any report made under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or any information obtained under section 105 of that Act,
(c)any information obtained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 or section 52 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987 (fraud investigations), or
(d)any information obtained under section 83 of the Companies Act 1989 (powers exercisable for purpose of assisting overseas regulatory authorities),
that it is expedient in the public interest that a company should be wound up, he may present a petition for it to be wound up if the court thinks it just and equitable for it to be so.
(2)This section does not apply if the company is already being wound up by the court.”.
In section 441 of the Companies Act 1985 (inspectors’ reports to be evidence), in subsection (1) for “sections 431 or 432” substitute “ this Part ”.
In section 442 of the Companies Act 1985 (power to investigate company ownership), for subsection (3) (investigation on application by members of company) substitute—
“(3)If an application for investigation under this section with respect to particular shares or debentures of a company is made to the Secretary of State by members of the company, and the number of applicants or the amount of shares held by them is not less than that required for an application for the appointment of inspectors under section 431(2)(a) or (b), then, subject to the following provisions, the Secretary of State shall appoint inspectors to conduct the investigation applied for.
(3A)The Secretary of State shall not appoint inspectors if he is satisfied that the application is vexatious; and where inspectors are appointed their terms of appointment shall exclude any matter in so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is unreasonable for it to be investigated.
(3B)The Secretary of State may, before appointing inspectors, require the applicant or applicants to give security, to an amount not exceeding £5,000, or such other sum as he may by order specify, for payment of the costs of the investigation.
An order under this subsection shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(3C)If on an application under subsection (3) it appears to the Secretary of State that the powers conferred by section 444 are sufficient for the purposes of investigating the matters which inspectors would be appointed to investigate, he may instead conduct the investigation under that section.”.
(1)Section 447 of the M50Companies Act 1985 (power of Secretary of State to require production of documents) is amended as follows.
(2)Omit subsection (1) (bodies in relation to which powers exercisable), and—
(a)in subsections (2) and (3) for “any such body” substitute “a company”,
(b)in subsections (4) and (5) for “any body” and “a body” substitute “a company”, and
(c)in subsections (5) and (6) for “the body” substitute “the company”.
(3)For “books or papers”, wherever occurring, substitute “documents”.
(4)In subsection (3) (power to authorise officer to require production of documents) after “an officer of his” insert “or any other competent person”, after “the officer” in the first place where it occurs insert “or other person” and for “the officer” in the second place where it occurs substitute “he (the officer or other person)”.
(5)In subsection (4) (power to require production of documents in possession of third party) after “an officer of his” and after “the officer” (twice) insert “or other person”.
(6)In subsection (6), for the second sentence substitute—
“Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to this offence.”.
(7)After subsection (8) insert—
“(9)In this section “documents” includes information recorded in any form; and, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, the power to require its production includes power to require the production of a copy of it in legible form.”.
(8)In Schedule 24 to the M51Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences), in the entry relating to section 447(6), for “books and papers” substitute “documents”.
(1)For section 448 of the Companies Act 1985 (entry and search of premises) substitute—
(1)A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State, or by a person appointed or authorised to exercise powers under this Part, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there are on any premises documents whose production has been required under this Part and which have not been produced in compliance with the requirement.
(2)A justice of the peace may also issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State, or by a person appointed or authorised to exercise powers under this Part—
(a)that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed for which the penalty on conviction on indictment is imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and that there are on any premises documents relating to whether the offence has been committed,
(b)that the Secretary of State, or the person so appointed or authorised, has power to require the production of the documents under this Part, and
(c)that there are reasonable grounds for believing that if production was so required the documents would not be produced but would be removed from the premises, hidden, tampered with or destroyed.
(3)A warrant under this section shall authorise a constable, together with any other person named in it and any other constables—
(a)to enter the premises specified in the information, using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose;
(b)to search the premises and take possession of any documents appearing to be such documents as are mentioned in subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, or to take, in relation to any such documents, any other steps which may appear to be necessary for preserving them or preventing interference with them;
(c)to take copies of any such documents; and
(d)to require any person named in the warrant to provide an explanation of them or to state where they may be found.
(4)If in the case of a warrant under subsection (2) the justice of the peace is satisfied on information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there are also on the premises other documents relevant to the investigation, the warrant shall also authorise the actions mentioned in subsection (3) to be taken in relation to such documents.
(5)A warrant under this section shall continue in force until the end of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is issued.
(6)Any documents of which possession is taken under this section may be retained—
(a)for a period of three months; or
(b)if within that period proceedings to which the documents are relevant are commenced against any person for any criminal offence, until the conclusion of those proceedings.
(7)Any person who intentionally obstructs the exercise of any rights conferred by a warrant issued under this section or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed in accordance with subsection (3)(d) is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to this offence.
(8)For the purposes of sections 449 and 451A (provision for security of information) documents obtained under this section shall be treated as if they had been obtained under the provision of this Part under which their production was or, as the case may be, could have been required.
(9)In the application of this section to Scotland for the references to a justice of the peace substitute references to a justice of the peace or a sheriff, and for the references to information on oath substitute references to evidence on oath.
(10)In this section “document” includes information recorded in any form.”.
(2)In Schedule 24 to the M52Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences), in the entry relating to section 448(5)—
(a)in the first column for “448(5)” substitute “448(7)”, and
(b)for the entry in the second column substitute—
“Obstructing the exercise of any rights conferred by a warrant or failing to comply with a requirement imposed under subsection (3)(d).”.
(1)Section 449 of the M53Companies Act 1985 (provision for security of information obtained) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) (purposes for which disclosure permitted)—
(a)in the opening words for “body” (twice) substitute “company”;
(b)for paragraph (c) substitute—
“(c)for the purposes of enabling or assisting any inspector appointed under this Part, or under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986, to discharge his functions;”;
(c)after that paragraph insert —
“(cc)for the purpose of enabling or assisting any person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of this Act, section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or section 84 of the Companies Act 1989 to discharge his functions;”;
(d)in paragraph (d) for “or the Financial Services Act 1986” substitute “, the Financial Services Act 1986 or Part II, III or VII of the Companies Act 1989,”;
(e)omit paragraph (e);
(f)in paragraph (h) for “(n) or (p)” substitute “or (n)”;
(g)after that paragraph insert—
“(hh)for the purpose of enabling or assisting a body established by order under section 46 of the Companies Act 1989 to discharge its functions under Part II of that Act, or of enabling or assisting a recognised supervisory or qualifying body within the meaning of that Part to discharge its functions as such;”;
(h)after paragraph (l) insert—
“(ll)with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any disciplinary proceedings relating to the discharge by a public servant of his duties;”;
(i)for paragraph (m) substitute—
“(m)for the purpose of enabling or assisting an overseas regulatory authority to exercise its regulatory functions.”.
(3)For subsection (1A) substitute—
“(1A)In subsection (1)—
(a)in paragraph (ll) “public servant” means an officer or servant of the Crown or of any public or other authority for the time being designated for the purposes of that paragraph by the Secretary of State by order made by statutory instrument; and
(b)in paragraph (m) “overseas regulatory authority” and “regulatory functions” have the same meaning as in section 82 of the Companies Act 1989.”.
(4)In subsection (1B) (disclosure to designated public authorities) for “designated for the purposes of this section” substitute “designated for the purposes of this subsection”.
(5)In subsection (2), for the second sentence substitute—
“Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to this offence.”.
(6)For subsection (3) substitute—
“(3)For the purposes of this section each of the following is a competent authority—
(a)the Secretary of State,
(b)an inspector appointed under this Part or under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986,
(c)any person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of this Act, section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or section 84 of the Companies Act 1989,
(d)the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland,
(e)the Treasury,
(f)the Bank of England,
(g)the Lord Advocate,
(h)the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,
(i)any designated agency or transferee body within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986, and any body administering a scheme under section 54 of or paragraph 18 of Schedule 11 to that Act (schemes for compensation of investors),
(j)the Chief Registrar of friendly societies and the Registrar of Friendly Societies for Northern Ireland,
(k)the Industrial Assurance Commissioner and the Industrial Assurance Commissioner for Northern Ireland,
(l)any constable,
(m)any procurator fiscal.
(3A)Any information which may by virtue of this section be disclosed to a competent authority may be disclosed to any officer or servant of the authority.”.
(7)In subsection (4) (orders) for “subsection (1B)” substitute “subsection (1A)(a) or (1B)”.
Commencement Information
I18S. 65 partly in force see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/142; s. 65(2) in force for certain purposes on 25.4.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/878, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)Section 450 of the M54Companies Act 1985 (punishment for destroying, mutilating, &c. company documents) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) for the opening words down to “insurance company” substitute “An officer of a company, or of an insurance company”, for “body’s” substitute “company’s” and for “the body” substitute “the company”.
(3)For subsection (4) substitute—
“(4)Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to an offence under this section.”.
(4)After that subsection insert—
“(5)In this section “document” includes information recorded in any form.”.
In section 451 of the M55Companies Act 1985 (punishment for furnishing false information), for the second sentence substitute—
“Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to this offence.”.
For section 451A of the Companies Act 1985 (disclosure of information by the Secretary of State) substitute—
(1)This section applies to information obtained under sections 434 to 446.
(2)The Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit—
(a)disclose any information to which this section applies to any person to whom, or for any purpose for which, disclosure is permitted under section 449, or
(b)authorise or require an inspector appointed under this Part to disclose such information to any such person or for any such purpose.
(3)Information to which this section applies may also be disclosed by an inspector appointed under this Part to—
(a)another inspector appointed under this Part or an inspector appointed under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986, or
(b)a person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of this Act, section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or section 84 of the Companies Act 1989.
(4)Any information which may by virtue of subsection (3) be disclosed to any person may be disclosed to any officer or servant of that person.
(5)The Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, disclose any information obtained under section 444 to—
(a)the company whose ownership was the subject of the investigation,
(b)any member of the company,
(c)any person whose conduct was investigated in the course of the investigation,
(d)the auditors of the company, or
(e)any person whose financial interests appear to the Secretary of State to be affected by matters covered by the investigation.”.
(1)Section 452 of the M56Companies Act 1985 (privileged information) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1), omit paragraph (b) (disclosure by bankers of information relating to their customers).
(3)After that subsection insert—
“(1A)Nothing in section 434, 443 or 446 requires a person (except as mentioned in subsection (1B) below) to disclose information or produce documents in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on the business of banking unless—
(a)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed is the company or other body corporate under investigation,
(b)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production, or
(c)the making of the requirement is authorised by the Secretary of State.
(1B)Subsection (1A) does not apply where the person owing the obligation of confidence is the company or other body corporate under investigation under section 431, 432 or 433.”.
(4)In subsection (3) after “officer of his” insert “or other person”.
In section 453 of the Companies Act 1985 (investigation of oversea companies), for subsection (1) substitute—
“(1)The provisions of this Part apply to bodies corporate incorporated outside Great Britain which are carrying on business in Great Britain, or have at any time carried on business there, as they apply to companies under this Act; but subject to the following exceptions, adaptations and modifications.
(1A)The following provisions do not apply to such bodies—
(a)section 431 (investigation on application of company or its members),
(b)section 438 (power to bring civil proceedings on the company’s behalf),
(c)sections 442 to 445 (investigation of company ownership and power to obtain information as to those interested in shares, &c.), and
(d)section 446 (investigation of share dealings).
(1B)The other provisions of this Part apply to such bodies subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified by regulations made by the Secretary of State.”.
In Schedule 22 to the Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), for the entry relating to Part XIV substitute—
“Part XIV (except section 446) | Investigation of companies and their affairs; requisition of documents. | —”. |
(1)Section 94 of the M57Financial Services Act 1986 (investigations into collective investment schemes) is amended as follows.
(2)For subsection (7) (privilege on grounds of banker’s duty of confidentiality) substitute—
“(7)Nothing in this section requires a person (except as mentioned in subsection (7A) below) to disclose any information or produce any document in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on the business of banking unless—
(a)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production, or
(b)the making of the requirement was authorised by the Secretary of State.
(7A)Subsection (7) does not apply where the person owing the obligation of confidence or the person to whom it is owed is—
(a)the manager, operator or trustee of the scheme under investigation, or
(b)a manager, operator or trustee whose own affairs are under investigation.”.
(3)After subsection (8) (duty of inspectors to report) insert—
“(8A)If it appears to the Secretary of State that matters have come to light in the course of the inspectors’ investigation which suggest that a criminal offence has been committed, and those matters have been referred to the appropriate prosecuting authority, he may direct the inspectors to take no further steps in the investigation or to take only such further steps as are specified in the direction.
(8B)Where an investigation is the subject of a direction under subsection (8A), the inspectors shall make a final report to the Secretary of State only where the Secretary of State directs them to do so.”.
(4)After subsection (9) add—
“(10)A person who is convicted on a prosecution instituted as a result of an investigation under this section may in the same proceedings be ordered to pay the expenses of the investigation to such extent as may be specified in the order.
There shall be treated as expenses of the investigation, in particular, such reasonable sums as the Secretary of State may determine in respect of general staff costs and overheads.”.
Marginal Citations
(1)Section 105 of the Financial Services Act 1986 (investigation into affairs of person carrying on investment business) is amended as follows.
(2)Omit subsection (7) (privilege on grounds of banker’s duty of confidentiality).
(3)In subsection (9) (interpretation), in the definition of “documents”, for “references to its production include references to producing” substitute “the power to require its production includes power to require the production of”.
(4)After subsection (10) add—
“(11)A person who is convicted on a prosecution instituted as a result of an investigation under this section may in the same proceedings be ordered to pay the expenses of the investigation to such extent as may be specified in the order.
There shall be treated as expenses of the investigation, in particular, such reasonable sums as the Secretary of State may determine in respect of general staff costs and overheads.”.
(5)In section 106 of the M58Financial Services Act 1986 (exercise of investigation powers by officer, &c.), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)A person shall not by virtue of an authority under this section be required to disclose any information or produce any documents in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on the business of banking unless—
(a)he is the person under investigation or a related company,
(b)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed is the person under investigation or a related company,
(c)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production, or
(d)the imposing on him of a requirement with respect to such information or documents has been specifically authorised by the Secretary of State.
In this subsection “documents”, “person under investigation” and “related company” have the same meaning as in section 105.”.
Marginal Citations
(1)Section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 (investigations into insider dealing) is amended as follows.
(2)After subsection (2) (power to limit period or scope of investigation) insert—
“(2A)At any time during the investigation the Secretary of State may vary the appointment by limiting or extending the period during which the inspector is to continue his investigation or by confining the investigation to particular matters.”.
(3)After subsection (5) (duty of inspectors to report) insert—
“(5A)If the Secretary of State thinks fit, he may direct the inspector to take no further steps in the investigation or to take only such further steps as are specified in the direction; and where an investigation is the subject of such a direction, the inspectors shall make a final report to the Secretary of State only where the Secretary of State directs them to do so.”.
(4)For subsection (8) (privilege on grounds of banker’s duty of confidentiality) substitute—
“(8)A person shall not under this section be required to disclose any information or produce any document in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on the business of banking unless—
(a)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production, or
(b)the making of the requirement was authorised by the Secretary of State.”.
(5)In subsection (10) (definition of “documents”) for “references to its production include references to producing” substitute “the power to require its production includes power to require the production of”.
(6)After subsection (10) add—
“(11)A person who is convicted on a prosecution instituted as a result of an investigation under this section may in the same proceedings be ordered to pay the expenses of the investigation to such extent as may be specified in the order.
There shall be treated as expenses of the investigation, in particular, such reasonable sums as the Secretary of State may determine in respect of general staff costs and overheads.”.
(1)In section 179(3) of the M59Financial Services Act 1986 (persons who are “primary recipients” for purposes of provisions restricting disclosure of information)—
(a)omit the word “and” preceding paragraph (i);
(b)in that paragraph, after “any such person” insert “as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (h) above”;
(c)after that paragraph insert—
“(j)any constable or other person named in a warrant issued under this Act.”.
(2)Section 180 of the Financial Services Act 1986 (exceptions from restrictions on disclosure) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsection (1) (purposes for which disclosure permitted)—
(a)in paragraph (c), after “insolvency” insert “or by Part II, III or VII of the Companies Act 1989”;
(b)for paragraph (e) substitute—
“(e)for the purpose—
(i)of enabling or assisting a designated agency to discharge its functions under this Act or Part VII of the Companies Act 1989,
(ii)of enabling or assisting a transferee body or the competent authority to discharge its functions under this Act, or
(iii)of enabling or assisting the body administering a scheme under section 54 above to discharge its functions under the scheme;”;
(c)after paragraph (h) insert—
“(hh)for the purpose of enabling or assisting a body established by order under section 46 of the Companies Act 1989 to discharge its functions under Part II of that Act, or of enabling or assisting a recognised supervisory or qualifying body within the meaning of that Part to discharge its functions as such;”;
(d)after paragraph (o) insert—
“(oo)with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any disciplinary proceedings relating to the discharge by a public servant of his duties;”;
(e)in paragraph (p), after “under” insert “section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of the Companies Act 1985,” and after “above” insert “or section 84 of the Companies Act 1989”;
(f)after paragraph (q) insert—
“(qq)for the purpose of enabling or assisting an overseas regulatory authority to exercise its regulatory functions;”.
(4)After that subsection insert—
“(1A)In subsection (1)—
(a)in paragraph (oo) “public servant” means an officer or servant of the Crown or of any public or other authority for the time being designated for the purposes of that paragraph by order of the Secretary of State; and
(b)in paragraph (qq) “overseas regulatory authority” and “regulatory functions” have the same meaning as in section 82 of the Companies Act 1989.”.
(5)In subsection (3) (disclosure to designated public authorities) for “designated for the purposes of this section” substitute “designated for the purposes of this subsection”.
(6)Omit subsection (6) (disclosure to certain overseas authorities).
(7)In subsection (9) (orders) for “subsection (3) or (8)” substitute “subsection (1A)(a), (3) or (8).”
Commencement Information
I19S. 75 partly in force see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/98, 1991/142; s. 75(3) in force for certain purposes on 25.4.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/878, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)Section 199 of the M60Financial Services Act 1986 (powers of entry) is amended as follows.
(2)For subsections (1) and (2) substitute—
“(1)A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed—
(a)under section 4, 47, 57, 130, 133 or 171(2) or (3) above, or
(b)section 1, 2, 4 or 5 of the Company Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985,
and that there are on any premises documents relevant to the question whether that offence has been committed.
(2)A justice of the peace may also issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State, or by a person appointed or authorised to exercise powers under section 94, 106 or 177 above, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there are on any premises documents whose production has been required under section 94, 105 or 177 above and which have not been produced in compliance with the requirement.”.
(3)In subsection (3)(b) for “subsection (1)(a) or (b)” substitute “subsection (1)”.
(4)In subsection (5) (period for which documents may be retained), for paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b)if within that period proceedings to which the documents are relevant are commenced against any person for any criminal offence, until the conclusion of those proceedings.”.
(5)In subsection (6) (offences) after “Any person who” insert “intentionally”.
(6)In subsection (7) for “subsection (1)(a) above” substitute “subsection (1) above”.
(7)For subsection (8) substitute—
“(8)In the application of this section to Scotland for the references to a justice of the peace substitute references to a justice of the peace or a sheriff, and for the references to information on oath substitute references to evidence on oath.”.
(8)In subsection (9) (definition of “documents”), omit the words from “and, in relation” to the end.
Marginal Citations
(1)Part II of the M61Insurance Companies Act 1982 is amended as follows.
(2)In section 44 (power to obtain information and require production of documents), for “books or papers” (wherever occurring) substitute “documents”, and for subsection (6) substitute—
“(6)In this section “document” includes information recorded in any form; and, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, the power to require its production includes power to require the production of a copy of the information in legible form.”.
(3)After that section insert—
(1)A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State, or by a person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 above, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there are on any premises documents whose production has been required under section 44(2) to (4) above and which have not been produced in compliance with the requirement.
(2)A justice of the peace may also issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Secretary of State, or by a person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 above—
(a)that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed for which the penalty on conviction on indictment is imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and that there are on any premises documents relating to whether the offence has been committed,
(b)that the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the authorised person has power to require the production of the documents under section 44(2) to (4) above, and
(c)that there are reasonable grounds for believing that if production was so required the documents would not be produced but would be removed from the premises, hidden, tampered with or destroyed.
(3)A warrant under this section shall authorise a constable, together with any other person named in it and any other constables—
(a)to enter the premises specified in the information, using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose;
(b)to search the premises and take possession of any documents appearing to be such documents as are mentioned in subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, or to take, in relation to any such documents, any other steps which may appear to be necessary for preserving them or preventing interference with them;
(c)to take copies of any such documents; and
(d)to require any person named in the warrant to provide an explanation of them or to state where they may be found.
(4)If in the case of a warrant under subsection (2) the justice of the peace is satisfied on information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there are also on the premises other documents relevant to the investigation, the warrant shall also authorise the actions mentioned in subsection (3) to be taken in relation to such documents.
(5)A warrant under this section shall continue in force until the end of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is issued.
(6)Any documents of which possession is taken under this section may be retained—
(a)for a period of three months; or
(b)if within that period proceedings to which the documents are relevant are commenced against any person for any criminal offence, until the conclusion of those proceedings.
(7)In the application of this section to Scotland for the references to a justice of the peace substitute references to a justice of the peace or a sheriff, and for the references to information on oath substitute references to evidence on oath.
(8)In this section “document” includes information recorded in any form.”.
(4)In section 47A(1) (restriction on disclosure of information), after “section 44(2) to (4)” insert “or 44A”.
(5)In section 71 (offences and penalties), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)A person who intentionally obstructs the exercise of any rights conferred by a warrant issued under section 44A above or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed in accordance with subsection (3)(d) of that section is guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine, and
(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.”.
(6)In section 71(6) (defence to failure to comply with requirement to produce books or papers) for “books or papers” substitute “documents”.
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
F4S. 78 repealed (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 15, Sch. 5; S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(c)(iii)
In section 8 of the M62Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (disqualification after investigation of company), after “section 52 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987” insert “or section 83 of the Companies Act 1989”.
Marginal Citations
In section 53 of the M63Building Societies Act 1986 (confidentiality of information obtained by the Building Societies Commission), in subsection (7)(b) (functions of Secretary of State for purposes of which disclosure may be made) after sub-paragraph (ii) insert—
“, or
(iii)Part II, III or VII of the Companies Act 1989;”.
Commencement Information
I20S. 80 wholly in force at 25.4.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/142 and 1991/878, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)In section 84(1) of the M64Banking Act 1987 (disclosure of information obtained under that Act), the Table showing the authorities to which, and functions for the purposes of which, disclosure may be made is amended as follows.
(2)In the entry relating to the Secretary of State, in column 2, for “or the Financial Services Act 1986” substitute “, the Financial Services Act 1986 or Part II, III or VII of the Companies Act 1989”.
(3)For the entry relating to inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State substitute—
““An inspector appointed under Part XIV of the Companies Act 1985 or section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under that Part or that section.”. |
(4)For the entry beginning “A person authorised by the Secretary of State” substitute—
“A person authorised to exercise powers under section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of the Companies Act 1985, section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or section 84 of the Companies Act 1989. | Functions under that section.”. |
(5)For the entry relating to a designated agency or transferee body or the competent authority (within the meaning of the M65Financial Services Act 1986) substitute—
“A designated agency (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986). | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986 or Part VII of the Companies Act 1989. |
A transferee body or the competent authority (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986). | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986.”. |
Commencement Information
I21S. 81 wholly in force at 25.4.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/142 and 1991/878, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)The powers conferred by section 83 are exercisable by the Secretary of State for the purpose of assisting an overseas regulatory authority which has requested his assistance in connection with inquiries being carried out by it or on its behalf.
(2)An “overseas regulatory authority” means an authority which in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom exercises—
(a)any function corresponding to—
(i)a function under the Financial Services Act 1986 of a designated agency, transferee body or competent authority (within the meaning of that Act),
(ii)a function of the Secretary of State under the M66Insurance Companies Act 1982, the M67Companies Act 1985 or the Financial Services Act 1986, or
(iii)a function of the [F5Financial Services Authority] under the M68Banking Act 1987, or
(b)any function in connection with the investigation of, or the enforcement of rules (whether or not having the force of law) relating to, conduct of the kind prohibited by [F6Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 (insider dealing)], or
(c)any function prescribed for the purposes of this subsection by order of the Secretary of State, being a function which in the opinion of the Secretary of State relates to companies or financial services.
An order under paragraph (c) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(3)The Secretary of State shall not exercise the powers conferred by section 83 unless he is satisfied that the assistance requested by the overseas regulatory authority is for the purposes of its regulatory functions.
An authority’s “regulatory functions” means any functions falling within subsection (2) and any other functions relating to companies or financial services.
(4)In deciding whether to exercise those powers the Secretary of State may take into account, in particular—
(a)whether corresponding assistance would be given in that country or territory to an authority exercising regulatory functions in the United Kingdom;
(b)whether the inquiries relate to the possible breach of a law, or other requirement, which has no close parallel in the United Kingdom or involves the assertion of a jurisdiction not recognised by the United Kingdom;
(c)the seriousness of the matter to which the inquiries relate, the importance to the inquiries of the information sought in the United Kingdom and whether the assistance could be obtained by other means;
(d)whether it is otherwise appropriate in the public interest to give the assistance sought.
(5)Before deciding whether to exercise those powers in a case where the overseas regulatory authority is a banking supervisor, the Secretary of State shall consult the [F7Financial Services Authority].
A “banking supervisor” means an overseas regulatory authority with respect to which the [F7Financial Services Authority]has notified the Secretary of State, for the purposes of this subsection, that it exercises functions corresponding to those of the [F8Authority] under the M69Banking Act 1987.
(6)The Secretary of State may decline to exercise those powers unless the overseas regulatory authority undertakes to make such contribution towards the costs of their exercise as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(7)References in this section to financial services include, in particular, investment business, insurance and banking.
Textual Amendments
F5Words in s. 82(2)(a)(iii) substituted (1.6.1998) by 1998 c. 11, s. 23, Sch. 5 Pt. IV c. II para. 66(2)(a); S.I. 1998/1120, art.2
F6Words in s. 82(2)(b) substituted (1.3.1994) by 1993 c. 36, s. 79(13), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 16; S.I. 1994/242, art. 2, Sch.
F7Words in s. 82(5) substituted (1.6.1998) by 1998 c. 11, s. 23, Sch. 5 Pt. IV c. II para. 66(2)(b)(i); S.I. 1998/1120, art.2
F8Word in s. 82(5) substituted (1.6.1998) by 1998 c. 11, s. 23, Sch. 5 Pt. IV c. II para. 66(2)(b)(ii); S.I. 1998/1120, art.2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C12S. 82(3): (7.6.1992) certain functions made exercisable concurrently by the Secretary of State and the Treasury by S.I. 1992/1315, arts. 5, 8, Sch. 3 para. 3 (with art. 6).
Marginal Citations
(1)The following powers may be exercised in accordance with section 82, if the Secretary of State considers there is good reason for their exercise.
(2)The Secretary of State may require any person—
(a)to attend before him at a specified time and place and answer questions or otherwise furnish information with respect to any matter relevant to the inquiries,
(b)to produce at a specified time and place any specified documents which appear to the Secretary of State to relate to any matter relevant to the inquiries, and
(c)otherwise to give him such assistance in connection with the inquiries as he is reasonably able to give.
(3)The Secretary of State may examine a person on oath and may administer an oath accordingly.
(4)Where documents are produced the Secretary of State may take copies or extracts from them.
(5)A person shall not under this section be required to disclose information or produce a document which he would be entitled to refuse to disclose or produce on grounds of legal professional privilege in proceedings in the High Court or on grounds of confidentiality as between client and professional legal adviser in proceedings in the Court of Session, except that a lawyer may be required to furnish the name and address of his client.
(6)A statement by a person in compliance with a requirement imposed under this section may be used in evidence against him.
[F9(6A)However, in criminal proceedings in which that person is charged with an offence to which this subsection applies—
(a)no evidence relating to the statement may be adduced, and
(b)no question relating to it may be asked,
by or on behalf of the prosecution, unless evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, in the proceedings by or on behalf of that person.
(6B)Subsection (6A) applies to any offence other than—
(a)an offence under section 85;
(b)an offence under section 2 or 5 of the M70Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made on oath otherwise than in judicial proceedings or made otherwise than on oath);
(c)an offence under section 44(1) or (2) of the M71Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made on oath or otherwise than on oath); or
(d)an offence under Article 7 or 10 of the M72Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statements made on oath otherwise than in judicial proceedings or made otherwise than on oath).]
(7)Where a person claims a lien on a document, its production under this section is without prejudice to his lien.
(8)In this section “documents” includes information recorded in any form; and, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, the power to require its production includes power to require the production of a copy of it in legible form.
Textual Amendments
F9S. 83(6A)(6B) inserted (14.4.2000 for E.W., N.I. and 1.1.2001 for S.) by 1999 c. 23, s. 59, Sch. 3 para.21 (with s. 63(2), Sch. 7 paras. 3(3), 5(2)); S.I. 2000/1034, arts. 2(a), 3(2); S.S.I. 2000/445, art. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)The Secretary of State may authorise an officer of his or any other competent person to exercise on his behalf all or any of the powers conferred by section 83.
(2)No such authority shall be granted except for the purpose of investigating—
(a)the affairs, or any aspects of the affairs, of a person specified in the authority, or
(b)a subject-matter so specified,
being a person who, or subject-matter which, is the subject of the inquiries being carried out by or on behalf of the overseas regulatory authority.
(3)No person shall be bound to comply with a requirement imposed by a person exercising powers by virtue of an authority granted under this section unless he has, if required, produced evidence of his authority.
(4)A person shall not by virtue of an authority under this section be required to disclose any information or produce any documents in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on the business of banking unless—
(a)the imposing on him of a requirement with respect to such information or documents has been specifically authorised by the Secretary of State, or
(b)the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production.
In this subsection “documents” has the same meaning as in section 83.
(5)Where the Secretary of State authorises a person other than one of his officers to exercise any powers by virtue of this section, that person shall make a report to the Secretary of State in such manner as he may require on the exercise of those powers and the results of exercising them.
(1)A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him under section 83 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
(2)A person who in purported compliance with any such requirement furnishes information which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular, commits an offence and is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or both;
(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both.
(1)This section applies to information relating to the business or other affairs of a person which—
(a)is supplied by an overseas regulatory authority in connection with a request for assistance, or
(b)is obtained by virtue of the powers conferred by section 83, whether or not any requirement to supply it is made under that section.
(2)Except as permitted by section 87 below, such information shall not be disclosed for any purpose—
(a)by the primary recipient, or
(b)by any person obtaining the information directly or indirectly from him,
without the consent of the person from whom the primary recipient obtained the information and, if different, the person to whom it relates.
(3)The “primary recipient” means, as the case may be—
(a)the Secretary of State,
(b)any person authorised under section 84 to exercise powers on his behalf, and
(c)any officer or servant of any such person.
(4)Information shall not be treated as information to which this section applies if it has been made available to the public by virtue of being disclosed in any circumstances in which, or for any purpose for which, disclosure is not precluded by this section.
(5)A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or both;
(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both.
(1)Information to which section 86 applies may be disclosed—
(a)to any person with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, relevant proceedings,
(b)for the purpose of enabling or assisting a relevant authority to discharge any relevant function (including functions in relation to proceedings),
(c)to the Treasury, if the disclosure is made in the interests of investors or in the public interest,
(d)if the information is or has been available to the public from other sources,
(e)in a summary or collection of information framed in such a way as not to enable the identity of any person to whom the information relates to be ascertained, or
(f)in pursuance of any Community obligation.
(2)The relevant proceedings referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—
(a)any criminal proceedings,
(b)civil proceedings arising under or by virtue of the M73Financial Services Act 1986 and proceedings before the Financial Services Tribunal, and
(c)disciplinary proceedings relating to—
(i)the exercise by a solicitor, auditor, accountant, valuer or actuary of his professional duties, or
(ii)the discharge by a public servant of his duties.
(3)In subsection (2)(c)(ii) “public servant” means an officer or servant of the Crown or of any public or other authority for the time being designated for the purposes of that provision by order of the Secretary of State.
(4)The relevant authorities referred to in subsection (1)(b), and the relevant functions in relation to each such authority, are as follows—
Authority | Functions |
---|---|
The Secretary of State. | Functions under the enactments relating to companies, insurance companies or insolvency, or under the Financial Services Act 1986 or Part II, this Part or Part VII of this Act. |
[F10The Treasury] | [F10Functions [F11under the enactments relating to insurance companies,] under the Financial Services Act 1986 or under this Part or Part VII of this Act.] |
An inspector appointed under Part XIV of the M74Companies Act 1985 or section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under that Part or that section. |
A person authorised to exercise powers [F12or appointed under section 43A or 44] of the M75Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 447 of the Companies Act 1985, section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986 or section 84 of this Act. | Functions under that section. |
An overseas regulatory authority. | Its regulatory functions (within the meaning of section 82 of this Act). |
The Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland or a person appointed or authorised by that Department. | Functions conferred on it or him by the enactments relating to companies or insolvency. |
A designated agency within the meaning of the M76Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under that Act or Part VII of this Act. |
A transferee body or the competent authority within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under that Act. |
The body administering a scheme under section 54 of the Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under the scheme. |
A recognised self-regulating organisation, recognised professional body, recognised investment exchange, recognised clearing house or recognised self-regulating organisation for friendly societies (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986). | Functions in its capacity as an organisation, body, exchange or clearing house recognised under that Act. |
The Chief Registrar of friendly societies, F13. . . and the Assistant Registrar of Friendly Societies for Scotland. | Functions under F13. . . the enactments relating to friendly societies or building societies. |
[F14The Friendly Societies Commission.] | [F14Functions under the enactments relating to friendly societies or under the Financial Services Act 1986.] |
The Bank of England. | [F15Any of its functions] |
[F16The Financial Services Authority. | Functions under the M77Financial Services Act 1986 (other than as a designated agency within the meaning of that Act), the M78Banking Act 1987 or section 171 of the M79Companies Act 1989.] |
The Deposit Protection Board. | Functions under the Banking Act 1987. |
A body established by order under section 46 of this Act. | Functions under Part II of this Act. |
A recognised supervisory or qualifying body within the meaning of Part II of this Act. | Functions as such a body. |
The Industrial Assurance Commissioner and the Industrial Assurance Commissioner for Northern Ireland. | Functions under the enactments relating to industrial assurance. |
F17. . . | F17. . . |
The Official Receiver or, in Northern Ireland, the Official Assignee for company liquidations or for bankruptcy. | Functions under the enactments relating to insolvency. |
A recognised professional body (within the meaning of section 391 of the Insolvency Act 1986). | Functions in its capacity as such a body under the M80Insolvency Act 1986. |
The Building Societies Commission. | Functions under the M81Building Societies Act 1986. |
[F18The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority.] | [F18Functions under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 or the Pensions Act 1995 or any enactment in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to either of them.] |
The Director General of Fair Trading. | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986. |
[F19 A person authorised by the Secretary of State under sections 245C of the Companies Act 1985.] | [F19Functions relating to the securing of compliance by companies with the accounting requirements of that Act.] |
[F20The Director General of the National Lottery.] | [F20Functions under sections 5 to 10 inclusive and section 15 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993.] |
[F21The Scottish Ministers | Functions under the enactments relating to insolvency |
The Accountant in Bankruptcy | Functions he has under the enactments relating to insolvency.] |
(5)The Secretary of State may by order amend the Table in subsection (4) so as to—
(a)add any public or other authority to the Table and specify the relevant functions of that authority,
(b)remove any authority from the Table, or
(c)add functions to, or remove functions from, those which are relevant functions in relation to an authority specified in the Table;
and the order may impose conditions subject to which, or otherwise restrict the circumstances in which, disclosure is permitted.
(6)An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Textual Amendments
F10S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (7.6.1992) by S.I. 1992/1315, art. 10(1), Sch. 4, para. 12 (with art. 6).
F11S. 87(4) Table: words inserted (5.1.1998) by S.I. 1997/2781, art. 8(1), Sch. Pt. II para. 116
F12S. 87(4) Table: by S.I. 1994/1696, regs. 1(1), 68, Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 18 words are expressed to be substituted (1.7.1994) for 'under section 44' in the third entry in the table
F13S. 87(4) Table: words repealed (1.1.1994) by 1992 c. 40, s. 120(2), Sch. 22 Pt. I (with ss. 7(5), 93(4)); S.I. 1993/2213, art. 2, Sch. 6
F14S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (1.2.1993) by Friendly Societies Act 1992 (c. 40), s. 120(1), Sch. 21 Pt. I para. 11 (with ss. 7(5), 93(4)); S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 3
F15S. 87(4) Table: words inserted (1.6.1998) by 1998 c. 11, s. 23, Sch. 5 Pt. IV c. II para. 66(3); S.I. 1998/1120, art. 2
F16S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (1.6.1998) by 1998 c. 11, s. 23, Sch. 5 Pt. IV c. II para. 66(3); S.I. 1998/1120, art. 2
F17S. 87(4): Entry in the Table omitted (30.4.2001) by virtue of S.I. 2001/1283, art. 3(4)
F18S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (6.4.1997) by 1995 c. 26, s. 122, Sch. 3 para. 19 (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. II
F19S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (16.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1826, art. 3
F20S. 87(4) Table: entry inserted (10.3.1994) by S.I. 1994/340, art. 3
F21S. 87(4) Table: entries inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 96
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C13S. 87 amended (temp. from 3.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2966, art. 7
S. 87 disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 17, 127, Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 28
Commencement Information
I22S. 87 wholly in force at 25.4.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1990/142 and 1991/878, art. 2, Sch.
Marginal Citations
(1)The following provisions apply where it appears to the Secretary of State that a request for assistance by an overseas regulatory authority may involve the powers conferred by section 83 being exercised in Northern Ireland in relation to matters which are transferred matters within the meaning of the M82Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.
(2)The Secretary of State shall before deciding whether to accede to the request consult the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland, and if he decides to accede to the request and it appears to him—
(a)that the powers should be exercised in Northern Ireland, and
(b)that the purposes for which they should be so exercised relate wholly or primarily to transferred matters,
he shall by instrument in writing authorise the Department to exercise in Northern Ireland his powers under section 83.
(3)The following provisions have effect in relation to the exercise of powers by virtue of such an authority with the substitution for references to the Secretary of State of references to the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland—
(a)section 84 (exercise of powers by officer, &c.),
(b)section 449 of the M83Companies Act 1985, section 53 or 54 of the M84Building Societies Act 1986, sections 179 and 180 of the M85Financial Services Act 1986, section 84 of the M86Banking Act 1987 and sections 86 and 87 above (restrictions on disclosure of information), and
(c)section 89 (authority for institution of criminal proceedings);
and references to the Secretary of State in other enactments which proceed by reference to those provisions shall be construed accordingly as being or including references to the Department.
(4)The Secretary of State may after consultation with the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland revoke an authority given to the Department under this section.
(5)In that case nothing in the provisions referred to in subsection (3)(b) shall apply so as to prevent the Department from giving the Secretary of State any information obtained by virtue of the authority; and (without prejudice to their application in relation to disclosure by the Department) those provisions shall apply to the disclosure of such information by the Secretary of State as if it had been obtained by him in the first place.
(6)Nothing in this section affects the exercise by the Secretary of State of any powers in Northern Ireland—
(a)in a case where at the time of acceding to the request it did not appear to him that the circumstances were such as to require him to authorise the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland to exercise those powers, or
(b)after the revocation by him of any such authority;
and no objection shall be taken to anything done by or in relation to the Secretary of State or the Department on the ground that it should have been done by or in relation to the other.
Proceedings for an offence under section 85 or 86 shall not be instituted—
(a)in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(b)in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
(1)Where an offence under section 85 or 86 committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(2)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as to a director of a body corporate.
(3)Where an offence under section 85 or 86 committed by a partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, he as well as the partnership is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(4)Where an offence under section 85 or 86 committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer of the association or any member of its governing body, he as well as the association is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(1)Summary proceedings for an offence under section 85 may, without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this section, be taken against a body corporate or unincorporated association at any place at which it has a place of business and against an individual at any place where he is for the time being.
(2)Proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed under section 85 or 86 by an unincorporated association shall be brought in the name of the association (and not in that of any of its members), and for the purposes of any such proceedings any rules of court relating to the service of documents apply as in relation to a body corporate.
(3)Section 33 of the M87Criminal Justice Act 1925 and Schedule 3 to the M88Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (procedure on charge of offence against a corporation) apply in a case in which an unincorporated association is charged in England and Wales with an offence under section 85 or 86 as they apply in the case of a corporation.
(4)In relation to proceedings on indictment in Scotland for an offence alleged to have been committed under section 85 or 86 by an unincorporated association, [F22section 70 of the M89Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995] (proceedings on indictment against bodies corporate) applies as if the association were a body corporate.
(5)Section 18 of the M90Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and Schedule 4 to the M91Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (procedure on charge of offence against a corporation) apply in a case in which an unincorporated association is charged in Northern Ireland with an offence under section 85 or 86 as they apply in the case of a corporation.
(6)A fine imposed on an unincorporated association on its conviction of such an offence shall be paid out of the funds of the association.
Textual Amendments
F22Words in s. 91(4) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 74(3)
Marginal Citations
Prospective
Textual Amendments
F23Pt. IV repealed (1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1180, 1300(2), Sch. 16; S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(v) (with arts. 7, 8, Sch. 2 para. 1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1)In Chapter III of Part I of the Companies Act 1985 (a company’s capacity; formalities of carrying on business), for section 35 substitute—
(1)The validity of an act done by a company shall not be called into question on the ground of lack of capacity by reason of anything in the company’s memorandum.
(2)A member of a company may bring proceedings to restrain the doing of an act which but for subsection (1) would be beyond the company’s capacity; but no such proceedings shall lie in respect of an act to be done in fulfilment of a legal obligation arising from a previous act of the company.
(3)It remains the duty of the directors to observe any limitations on their powers flowing from the company’s memorandum; and action by the directors which but for subsection (1) would be beyond the company’s capacity may only be ratified by the company by special resolution.
A resolution ratifying such action shall not affect any liability incurred by the directors or any other person; relief from any such liability must be agreed to separately by special resolution.
(4)The operation of this section is restricted by section 30B(1) of the Charities Act 1960 and section 112(3) of the Companies Act 1989 in relation to companies which are charities; and section 322A below (invalidity of certain transactions to which directors or their associates are parties) has effect notwithstanding this section.
(1)In favour of a person dealing with a company in good faith, the power of the board of directors to bind the company, or authorise others to do so, shall be deemed to be free of any limitation under the company’s constitution.
(2)For this purpose—
(a)a person “deals with” a company if he is a party to any transaction or other act to which the company is a party;
(b)a person shall not be regarded as acting in bad faith by reason only of his knowing that an act is beyond the powers of the directors under the company’s constitution; and
(c)a person shall be presumed to have acted in good faith unless the contrary is proved.
(3)The references above to limitations on the directors’ powers under the company’s constitution include limitations deriving—
(a)from a resolution of the company in general meeting or a meeting of any class of shareholders, or
(b)from any agreement between the members of the company or of any class of shareholders.
(4)Subsection (1) does not affect any right of a member of the company to bring proceedings to restrain the doing of an act which is beyond the powers of the directors; but no such proceedings shall lie in respect of an act to be done in fulfilment of a legal obligation arising from a previous act of the company.
(5)Nor does that subsection affect any liability incurred by the directors, or any other person, by reason of the directors’ exceeding their powers.
(6)The operation of this section is restricted by section 30B(1) of the Charities Act 1960 and section 112(3) of the Companies Act 1989 in relation to companies which are charities; and section 322A below (invalidity of certain transactions to which directors or their associates are parties) has effect notwithstanding this section.
A party to a transaction with a company is not bound to enquire as to whether it is permitted by the company’s memorandum or as to any limitation on the powers of the board of directors to bind the company or authorise others to do so.”.
(2)In Schedule 21 to the M92Companies Act 1985 (effect of registration of companies not formed under that Act), in paragraph 6 (general application of provisions of Act), after sub-paragraph (5) insert—
“(6)Where by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) or (5) a company does not have power to alter a provision, it does not have power to ratify acts of the directors in contravention of the provision.”.
(3)In Schedule 22 to the Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), in the entries relating to Part I, in the first column for “section 35” substitute “sections 35 to 35B”.
Commencement Information
I23Ss. 108-112 and Schedule 19 para 11 were not in force at the 1.2.1991 (base date) but were brought into force on 4.2.1991 by S.I. 1990/2569.
Marginal Citations
(1)In Part X of the Companies Act 1985 (enforcement of fair dealing by directors), after section 322 insert—
(1)This section applies where a company enters into a transaction to which the parties include—
(a)a director of the company or of its holding company, or
(b)a person connected with such a director or a company with whom such a director is associated,
and the board of directors, in connection with the transaction, exceed any limitation on their powers under the company’s constitution.
(2)The transaction is voidable at the instance of the company.
(3)Whether or not it is avoided, any such party to the transaction as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b), and any director of the company who authorised the transaction, is liable—
(a)to account to the company for any gain which he has made directly or indirectly by the transaction, and
(b)to indemnify the company for any loss or damage resulting from the transaction.
(4)Nothing in the above provisions shall be construed as excluding the operation of any other enactment or rule of law by virtue of which the transaction may be called in question or any liability to the company may arise.
(5)The transaction ceases to be voidable if—
(a)restitution of any money or other asset which was the subject-matter of the transaction is no longer possible, or
(b)the company is indemnified for any loss or damage resulting from the transaction, or
(c)rights acquired bona fide for value and without actual notice of the directors’ exceeding their powers by a person who is not party to the transaction would be affected by the avoidance, or
(d)the transaction is ratified by the company in general meeting, by ordinary or special resolution or otherwise as the case may require.
(6)A person other than a director of the company is not liable under subsection (3) if he shows that at the time the transaction was entered into he did not know that the directors were exceeding their powers.
(7)This section does not affect the operation of section 35A in relation to any party to the transaction not within subsection (1)(a) or (b).
But where a transaction is voidable by virtue of this section and valid by virtue of that section in favour of such a person, the court may, on the application of that person or of the company, make such order affirming, severing or setting aside the transaction, on such terms, as appear to the court to be just.
(8)In this section “transaction” includes any act; and the reference in subsection (1) to limitations under the company’s constitution includes limitations deriving—
(a)from a resolution of the company in general meeting or a meeting of any class of shareholders, or
(b)from any agreement between the members of the company or of any class of shareholders.”.
(2)In Schedule 22 to the M93Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), in the entries relating to Part X, insert—
“section 322A | Invalidity of certain transactions involving directors, etc. | Subject to section 718(3).” |
Commencement Information
I24Ss 108-112 and Schedule 19 para 11 were not in force at the 1.2.1991 (base date) but were brought into force on 4.2.1991 by S.I. 1990/2569.
Marginal Citations
In Chapter I of Part I of the M94Companies Act 1985 (company formation), after section 3 (forms of memorandum) insert—
Where the company’s memorandum states that the object of the company is to carry on business as a general commercial company—
(a)the object of the company is to carry on any trade or business whatsoever, and
(b)the company has power to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the carrying on of any trade or business by it.”.
(2)In the same Chapter, for section 4 (resolution to alter objects) substitute—
(1)A company may by special resolution alter its memorandum with respect to the statement of the company’s objects.
(2)If an application is made under the following section, an alteration does not have effect except in so far as it is confirmed by the court.”.
Commencement Information
I25Ss. 108-112 and Schedule 19 para 11 were not in force at the 1.2.1991 (base date) but were brought into force on 4.2.1991 by S.I. 1990/2569.
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
F24S. 111 repealed (1.8.1993) by 1993 c. 10, ss. 98(2), 99(1), Sch. 7
(1)In the following provisions (which extend to Scotland only)—
(a)“company” means a company formed and registered under the M95Companies Act 1985, or to which the provisions of that Act apply as they apply to such a company; and
(b)“charity” means a body established for charitable purposes only (that expression having the same meaning as in the Income Tax Acts).
(2)Where a charity is a company or other body corporate having power to alter the instruments establishing or regulating it as a body corporate, no exercise of that power which has the effect of the body ceasing to be a charity shall be valid so as to affect the application of—
(a)any property acquired by virtue of any transfer, contract or obligation previously effected otherwise than for full consideration in money or money’s worth, or any property representing property so acquired,
(b)any property representing income which has accrued before the alteration is made, or
(c)the income from any such property as aforesaid.
(3)Sections 35 and 35A of the Companies Act 1985 (capacity of company not limited by its memorandum; power of directors to bind company) do not apply to the acts of a company which is a charity except in favour of a person who—
(a)gives full consideration in money or money’s worth in relation to the act in question, and
(b)does not know that the act is not permitted by the company’s memorandum or, as the case may be, is beyond the powers of the directors,
or who does not know at the time the act is done that the company is a charity.
(4)However, where such a company purports to transfer or grant an interest in property, the fact that the act was not permitted by the company’s memorandum or, as the case may be, that the directors in connection with the act exceeded any limitation on their powers under the company’s constitution, does not affect the title of a person who subsequently acquires the property or any interest in it for full consideration without actual notice of any such circumstances affecting the validity of the company’s act.
(5)In any proceedings arising out of subsection (3) the burden of proving—
(a)that a person knew that an act was not permitted by the company’s memorandum or was beyond the powers of the directors, or
(b)that a person knew that the company was a charity,
lies on the person making that allegation.
(6)Where a company is a charity and its name does not include the word “charity” or the word “charitable”, the fact that the company is a charity shall be stated in English in legible characters—
(a)in all business letters of the company,
(b)in all its notices and other official publications,
(c)in all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the company,
(d)in all conveyances purporting to be executed by the company, and
(e)in all its bills of parcels, invoices, receipts and letters of credit.
(7)In subsection (6)(d) “conveyance” means any document for the creation, transfer, variation or extinction of an interest in land.
(8)Section 349(2) to (4) of the M96Companies Act 1985 (offences in connection with failure to include required particulars in business letters, &c.) apply in relation to a contravention of subsection (6) above.
Commencement Information
I26Ss 108-112 and Schedule 19 para. 11 were not in force at the 1.2.1991 (base date) but were brought into force on 4.2.1991 by S.I. 1990/2569.
Marginal Citations
(1)Chapter IV of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (meetings and resolutions) is amended as follows.
(2)After section 381 insert—
(1)Anything which in the case of a private company may be done—
(a)by resolution of the company in general meeting, or
(b)by resolution of a meeting of any class of members of the company,
may be done, without a meeting and without any previous notice being required, by resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of all the members of the company who at the date of the resolution would be entitled to attend and vote at such meeting.
(2)The signatures need not be on a single document provided each is on a document which accurately states the terms of the resolution.
(3)The date of the resolution means when the resolution is signed by or on behalf of the last member to sign.
(4)A resolution agreed to in accordance with this section has effect as if passed—
(a)by the company in general meeting, or
(b)by a meeting of the relevant class of members of the company,
as the case may be; and any reference in any enactment to a meeting at which a resolution is passed or to members voting in favour of a resolution shall be construed accordingly.
(5)Any reference in any enactment to the date of passing of a resolution is, in relation to a resolution agreed to in accordance with this section, a reference to the date of the resolution, unless section 381B(4) applies in which case it shall be construed as a reference to the date from which the resolution has effect.
(6)A resolution may be agreed to in accordance with this section which would otherwise be required to be passed as a special, extraordinary or elective resolution; and any reference in any enactment to a special, extraordinary or elective resolution includes such a resolution.
(7)This section has effect subject to the exceptions specified in Part I of Schedule 15A; and in relation to certain descriptions of resolution under this section the procedural requirements of this Act have effect with the adaptations specified in Part II of that Schedule.
(1)A copy of any written resolution proposed to be agreed to in accordance with section 381A shall be sent to the company’s auditors.
(2)If the resolution concerns the auditors as auditors, they may within seven days from the day on which they receive the copy give notice to the company stating their opinion that the resolution should be considered by the company in general meeting or, as the case may be, by a meeting of the relevant class of members of the company.
(3)A written resolution shall not have effect unless—
(a)the auditors notify the company that in their opinion the resolution—
(i)does not concern them as auditors, or
(ii)does so concern them but need not be considered by the company in general meeting or, as the case may be, by a meeting of the relevant class of members of the company, or
(b)the period for giving a notice under subsection (2) expires without any notice having been given in accordance with that subsection.
(4)A written resolution previously agreed to in accordance with section 381A shall not have effect until that notification is given or, as the case may be, that period expires.
(1)Sections 381A and 381B have effect notwithstanding any provision of the company’s memorandum or articles.
(2)Nothing in those sections affects any enactment or rule of law as to—
(a)things done otherwise than by passing a resolution, or
(b)cases in which a resolution is treated as having been passed, or a person is precluded from alleging that a resolution has not been duly passed.”.
(3)After section 382 insert—
(1)Where a written resolution is agreed to in accordance with section 381A which has effect as if agreed by the company in general meeting, the company shall cause a record of the resolution (and of the signatures) to be entered in a book in the same way as minutes of proceedings of a general meeting of the company.
(2)Any such record, if purporting to be signed by a director of the company or by the company secretary, is evidence of the proceedings in agreeing to the resolution; and where a record is made in accordance with this section, then, until the contrary is proved, the requirements of this Act with respect to those proceedings shall be deemed to be complied with.
(3)Section 382(5) (penalties) applies in relation to a failure to comply with subsection (1) above as it applies in relation to a failure to comply with subsection (1) of that section; and section 383 (inspection of minute books) applies in relation to a record made in accordance with this section as it applies in relation to the minutes of a general meeting.”.
(1)In the M97Companies Act 1985 the following Schedule is inserted after Schedule 15—
1Section 381A does not apply to—
(a)a resolution under section 303 removing a director before the expiration of his period of office, or
(b)a resolution under section 391 removing an auditor before the expiration of his term of office.
2(1)In this Part of this Schedule (which adapts certain requirements of this Act in relation to proceedings under section 381A)—
(a)a “written resolution” means a resolution agreed to, or proposed to be agreed to, in accordance with that section, and
(b)a “relevant member” means a member by whom, or on whose behalf, the resolution is required to be signed in accordance with that section.
(2)A written resolution is not effective if any of the requirements of this Part of this Schedule is not complied with.
3(1)The following adaptations have effect in relation to a written resolution under section 95(2) (disapplication of pre-emption rights), or renewing a resolution under that provision.
(2)So much of section 95(5) as requires the circulation of a written statement by the directors with a notice of meeting does not apply, but such a statement must be supplied to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.
(3)Section 95(6) (offences) applies in relation to the inclusion in any such statement of matter which is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
4In relation to a written resolution giving approval under section 155(4) or (5) (financial assistance for purchase of company’s own shares or those of holding company), section 157(4)(a) (documents to be available at meeting) does not apply, but the documents referred to in that provision must be supplied to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.
5(1)The following adaptations have effect in relation to a written resolution—
(a)conferring authority to make an off-market purchase of the company’s own shares under section 164(2),
(b)conferring authority to vary a contract for an off-market purchase of the company’s own shares under section 164(7), or
(c)varying, revoking or renewing any such authority under section 164(3).
(2)Section 164(5) (resolution ineffective if passed by exercise of voting rights by member holding shares to which the resolution relates) does not apply; but for the purposes of section 381A(1) a member holding shares to which the resolution relates shall not be regarded as a member who would be entitled to attend and vote.
(3)Section 164(6) (documents to be available at company’s registered office and at meeting) does not apply, but the documents referred to in that provision and, where that provision applies by virtue of section 164(7), the further documents referred to in that provision must be supplied to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.
(4)The above adaptations also have effect in relation to a written resolution in relation to which the provisions of section 164(3) to (7) apply by virtue of—
(a)section 165(2) (authority for contingent purchase contract), or
(b)section 167(2) (approval of release of rights under contract approved under section 164 or 165).
6(1)The following adaptations have effect in relation to a written resolution giving approval under section 173(2) (redemption or purchase of company’s own shares out of capital).
(2)Section 174(2) (resolution ineffective if passed by exercise of voting rights by member holding shares to which the resolution relates) does not apply; but for the purposes of section 381A(1) a member holding shares to which the resolution relates shall not be regarded as a member who would be entitled to attend and vote.
(3)Section 174(4) (documents to be available at meeting) does not apply, but the documents referred to in that provision must be supplied to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.
7In relation to a written resolution approving any such term as is mentioned in section 319(1) (director’s contract of employment for more than five years), section 319(5) (documents to be available at company’s registered office and at meeting) does not apply, but the documents referred to in that provision must be supplied to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.
8In relation to a written resolution giving approval under section 337(3)(a) (funding a director’s expenditure in performing his duties), the requirement of that provision that certain matters be disclosed at the meeting at which the resolution is passed does not apply, but those matters must be disclosed to each relevant member at or before the time at which the resolution is supplied to him for signature.”.
(2)The Schedule inserted after Schedule 15 to the M98Companies Act 1985 by the M99Companies (Mergers and Divisions) Regulations 1987 is renumbered “15B”; and accordingly, in section 427A of that Act (also inserted by those regulations), in subsections (1) and (8) for “15A” substitute “15B”.
(1)In Part IV of the Companies Act 1985 (allotment of shares and debentures), in section 80(1) (authority of company required for certain allotments) after “this section” insert “or section 80A”; and after that section insert—
(1)A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A) that the provisions of this section shall apply, instead of the provisions of section 80(4) and (5), in relation to the giving or renewal, after the election, of an authority under that section.
(2)The authority must state the maximum amount of relevant securities that may be allotted under it and may be given—
(a)for an indefinite period, or
(b)for a fixed period, in which case it must state the date on which it will expire.
(3)In either case an authority (including an authority contained in the articles) may be revoked or varied by the company in general meeting.
(4)An authority given for a fixed period may be renewed or further renewed by the company in general meeting.
(5)A resolution renewing an authority—
(a)must state, or re-state, the amount of relevant securities which may be allotted under the authority or, as the case may be, the amount remaining to be allotted under it, and
(b)must state whether the authority is renewed for an indefinite period or for a fixed period, in which case it must state the date on which the renewed authority will expire.
(6)The references in this section to the maximum amount of relevant securities that may be allotted shall be construed in accordance with section 80(6).
(7)If an election under this section ceases to have effect, an authority then in force which was given for an indefinite period or for a fixed period of more than five years—
(a)if given five years or more before the election ceases to have effect, shall expire forthwith, and
(b)otherwise, shall have effect as if it had been given for a fixed period of five years.”.
(2)In Chapter IV of Part XI of the M100Companies Act 1985 (meetings and resolutions), after section 366 (annual general meeting) insert—
(1)A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A) to dispense with the holding of annual general meetings.
(2)An election has effect for the year in which it is made and subsequent years, but does not affect any liability already incurred by reason of default in holding an annual general meeting.
(3)In any year in which an annual general meeting would be required to be held but for the election, and in which no such meeting has been held, any member of the company may, by notice to the company not later than three months before the end of the year, require the holding of an annual general meeting in that year.
(4)If such a notice is given, the provisions of section 366(1) and (4) apply with respect to the calling of the meeting and the consequences of default.
(5)If the election ceases to have effect, the company is not obliged under section 366 to hold an annual general meeting in that year if, when the election ceases to have effect, less than three months of the year remains.
This does not affect any obligation of the company to hold an annual general meeting in that year in pursuance of a notice given under subsection (3).”.
(3)In the same Chapter, in sections 369(4) and 378(3) (majority required to sanction short notice of meeting) insert—
“A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A) that the above provisions shall have effect in relation to the company as if for the references to 95 per cent. there were substituted references to such lesser percentage, but not less than 90 per cent., as may be specified in the resolution or subsequently determined by the company in general meeting.”.
(1)Chapter IV of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (meetings and resolutions) is amended as follows.
(2)After section 379 insert—
(1)An election by a private company for the purposes of—
(a)section 80A (election as to duration of authority to allot shares),
(b)section 252 (election to dispense with laying of accounts and reports before general meeting),
(c)section 366A (election to dispense with holding of annual general meeting),
(d)section 369(4) or 378(3) (election as to majority required to authorise short notice of meeting), or
(e)section 386 (election to dispense with appointment of auditors annually),
shall be made by resolution of the company in general meeting in accordance with this section.
Such a resolution is referred to in this Act as an “elective resolution”.
(2)An elective resolution is not effective unless—
(a)at least 21 days’ notice in writing is given of the meeting, stating that an elective resolution is to be proposed and stating the terms of the resolution, and
(b)the resolution is agreed to at the meeting, in person or by proxy, by all the members entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
(3)The company may revoke an elective resolution by passing an ordinary resolution to that effect.
(4)An elective resolution shall cease to have effect if the company is re-registered as a public company.
(5)An elective resolution may be passed or revoked in accordance with this section, and the provisions referred to in subsection (1) have effect, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the company’s articles of association.”.
(3)In section 380 (registration of resolutions), in subsection (4) (resolutions to which the section applies), after paragraph (b) insert—
“(bb)an elective resolution or a resolution revoking such a resolution;”.
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision enabling private companies to elect, by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A of the M101Companies Act 1985, to dispense with compliance with such requirements of that Act as may be specified in the regulations, being requirements which appear to the Secretary of State to relate primarily to the internal administration and procedure of companies.
(2)The regulations may add to, amend or repeal provisions of that Act; and may provide for any such provision to have effect, where an election is made, subject to such adaptations and modifications as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(3)The regulations may make different provision for different cases and may contain such supplementary, incidental and transitional provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(4)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
(5)No regulations under this section shall be made unless a draft of the instrument containing the regulations has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
(1)The following sections amend the provisions of the M102Companies Act 1985 relating to auditors by inserting new provisions in Chapter V of Part XI of that Act.
(2)The new provisions, together with the amendment made by section 124, replace the present provisions of that Chapter except section 389 (qualification for appointment as auditor) which is replaced by provisions in Part II of this Act.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Chapter V of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (auditors)—
(1)Every company shall appoint an auditor or auditors in accordance with this Chapter.
This is subject to section 388A (dormant company exempt from obligation to appoint auditors).
(2)Auditors shall be appointed in accordance with section 385 (appointment at general meeting at which accounts are laid), except in the case of a private company which has elected to dispense with the laying of accounts in which case the appointment shall be made in accordance with section 385A.
(3)References in this Chapter to the end of the time for appointing auditors are to the end of the time within which an appointment must be made under section 385(2) or 385A(2), according to whichever of those sections applies.
(4)Sections 385 and 385A have effect subject to section 386 under which a private company may elect to dispense with the obligation to appoint auditors annually.
(1)This section applies to every public company and to a private company which has not elected to dispense with the laying of accounts.
(2)The company shall, at each general meeting at which accounts are laid, appoint an auditor or auditors to hold office from the conclusion of that meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid.
(3)The first auditors of the company may be appointed by the directors at any time before the first general meeting of the company at which accounts are laid; and auditors so appointed shall hold office until the conclusion of that meeting.
(4)If the directors fail to exercise their powers under subsection (3), the powers may be exercised by the company in general meeting.
(1)This section applies to a private company which has elected in accordance with section 252 to dispense with the laying of accounts before the company in general meeting.
(2)Auditors shall be appointed by the company in general meeting before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which copies of the company’s annual accounts for the previous financial year are sent to members under section 238 or, if notice is given under section 253(2) requiring the laying of the accounts before the company in general meeting, the conclusion of that meeting.
Auditors so appointed shall hold office from the end of that period or, as the case may be, the conclusion of that meeting until the end of the time for appointing auditors for the next financial year.
(3)The first auditors of the company may be appointed by the directors at any time before—
(a)the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which copies of the company’s first annual accounts are sent to members under section 238, or
(b)if notice is given under section 253(2) requiring the laying of the accounts before the company in general meeting, the beginning of that meeting;
and auditors so appointed shall hold office until the end of that period or, as the case may be, the conclusion of that meeting.
(4)If the directors fail to exercise their powers under subsection (3), the powers may be exercised by the company in general meeting.
(5)Auditors holding office when the election is made shall, unless the company in general meeting determines otherwise, continue to hold office until the end of the time for appointing auditors for the next financial year; and auditors holding office when an election ceases to have effect shall continue to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the company at which accounts are laid.
(1)A private company may elect (by elective resolution in accordance with section 379A) to dispense with the obligation to appoint auditors annually.
(2)When such an election is in force the company’s auditors shall be deemed to be re-appointed for each succeeding financial year on the expiry of the time for appointing auditors for that year, unless—
(a)a resolution has been passed under section 250 by virtue of which the company is exempt from the obligation to appoint auditors, or
(b)a resolution has been passed under section 393 to the effect that their appointment should be brought to an end.
(3)If the election ceases to be in force, the auditors then holding office shall continue to hold office—
(a)where section 385 then applies, until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the company at which accounts are laid;
(b)where section 385A then applies, until the end of the time for appointing auditors for the next financial year under that section.
(4)No account shall be taken of any loss of the opportunity of further deemed re-appointment under this section in ascertaining the amount of any compensation or damages payable to an auditor on his ceasing to hold office for any reason.
(1)If in any case no auditors are appointed, re-appointed or deemed to be re-appointed before the end of the time for appointing auditors, the Secretary of State may appoint a person to fill the vacancy.
(2)In such a case the company shall within one week of the end of the time for appointing auditors give notice to the Secretary of State of his power having become exercisable.
If a company fails to give the notice required by this subsection, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
(1)The directors, or the company in general meeting, may fill a casual vacancy in the office of auditor.
(2)While such a vacancy continues, any surviving or continuing auditor or auditors may continue to act.
(3)Special notice is required for a resolution at a general meeting of a company—
(a)filling a casual vacancy in the office of auditor, or
(b)re-appointing as auditor a retiring auditor who was appointed by the directors to fill a casual vacancy.
(4)On receipt of notice of such an intended resolution the company shall forthwith send a copy of it—
(a)to the person proposed to be appointed, and
(b)if the casual vacancy was caused by the resignation of an auditor, to the auditor who resigned.
(1)A company which by virtue of section 250 (dormant companies: exemption from provisions as to audit of accounts) is exempt from the provisions of Part VII relating to the audit of accounts is also exempt from the obligation to appoint auditors.
(2)The following provisions apply if the exemption ceases.
(3)Where section 385 applies (appointment at general meeting at which accounts are laid), the directors may appoint auditors at any time before the next meeting of the company at which accounts are to be laid; and auditors so appointed shall hold office until the conclusion of that meeting.
(4)Where section 385A applies (appointment by private company not obliged to lay accounts), the directors may appoint auditors at any time before—
(a)the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which copies of the company’s annual accounts are next sent to members under section 238, or
(b)if notice is given under section 253(2) requiring the laying of the accounts before the company in general meeting, the beginning of that meeting;
and auditors so appointed shall hold office until the end of that period or, as the case may be, the conclusion of that meeting.
(5)If the directors fail to exercise their powers under subsection (3) or (4), the powers may be exercised by the company in general meeting.”.
(2)In Schedule 24 to the M103Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences), at the appropriate place insert—
“387(2) | Company failing to give Secretary of State notice of non-appointment of auditors. | Summary. | One-fifth of the statutory maximum. | One-fiftieth of the statutory maximum.”. |
(3)In section 46(2) of the M104Banking Act 1987 (duty of auditor of authorised institution to give notice to Bank of England of certain matters) for “appointed under section 384” substitute “appointed under Chapter V of Part XI”; and in section 46(4) (adaptation of references in relation to Northern Ireland) for “sections 384,” substitute “Chapter V of Part XI and sections”.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Chapter V of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (auditors)—
(1)The auditors of a company have a right of access at all times to the company’s books, accounts and vouchers, and are entitled to require from the company’s officers such information and explanations as they think necessary for the performance of their duties as auditors.
(2)An officer of a company commits an offence if he knowingly or recklessly makes to the company’s auditors a statement (whether written or oral) which—
(a)conveys or purports to convey any information or explanations which the auditors require, or are entitled to require, as auditors of the company, and
(b)is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
A person guilty of an offence under this subsection is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.
(3)A subsidiary undertaking which is a body corporate incorporated in Great Britain, and the auditors of such an undertaking, shall give to the auditors of any parent company of the undertaking such information and explanations as they may reasonably require for the purposes of their duties as auditors of that company.
If a subsidiary undertaking fails to comply with this subsection, the undertaking and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine; and if an auditor fails without reasonable excuse to comply with this subsection he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(4)A parent company having a subsidiary undertaking which is not a body corporate incorporated in Great Britain shall, if required by its auditors to do so, take all such steps as are reasonably open to it to obtain from the subsidiary undertaking such information and explanations as they may reasonably require for the purposes of their duties as auditors of that company.
If a parent company fails to comply with this subsection, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(5)Section 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) applies to an offence under subsection (3).
(1)A company’s auditors are entitled—
(a)to receive all notices of, and other communications relating to, any general meeting which a member of the company is entitled to receive;
(b)to attend any general meeting of the company; and
(c)to be heard at any general meeting which they attend on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns them as auditors.
(2)In relation to a written resolution proposed to be agreed to by a private company in accordance with section 381A, the company’s auditors are entitled—
(a)to receive all such communications relating to the resolution as, by virtue of any provision of Schedule 15A, are required to be supplied to a member of the company,
(b)to give notice in accordance with section 381B of their opinion that the resolution concerns them as auditors and should be considered by the company in general meeting or, as the case may be, by a meeting of the relevant class of members of the company,
(c)to attend any such meeting, and
(d)to be heard at any such meeting which they attend on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns them as auditors.
(3)The right to attend or be heard at a meeting is exercisable in the case of a body corporate or partnership by an individual authorised by it in writing to act as its representative at the meeting.”.
(2)In section 734 of the M105Companies Act 1985 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies), in subsection (1) (offences in relation to which the provisions apply), after “under” insert “section 389A(3) or”.
(3)In Schedule 24 to the Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences) at the appropriate place insert—
“389A(2) | Officer of company making false, misleading or deceptive statement to auditors. | 1. On indictment. | 2 years or a fine; or both. |
2. Summary. | 6 months or the statutory maximum; or both. | ||
389A(3) | Subsidiary undertaking or its auditor failing to give information to auditors of parent company. | Summary. | One-fifth of the statutory maximum. |
389A(4) | Parent company failing to obtain from subsidiary undertaking information for purposes of audit. | Summary. | One-fifth of the statutory maximum.”. |
(4)In Schedule 4 to the M106Iron and Steel Act 1982 (constitution and proceedings of publicly-owned companies that are private companies), in paragraph 3(6) (entitlement of auditors to attend and be heard at general meetings, &c.) for “387(1)” substitute “390(1)”.
The following sections are inserted in Chapter V of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (auditors)—
(1)The remuneration of auditors appointed by the company in general meeting shall be fixed by the company in general meeting or in such manner as the company in general meeting may determine.
(2)The remuneration of auditors appointed by the directors or the Secretary of State shall be fixed by the directors or the Secretary of State, as the case may be.
(3)There shall be stated in a note to the company’s annual accounts the amount of the remuneration of the company’s auditors in their capacity as such.
(4)For the purposes of this section “remuneration” includes sums paid in respect of expenses.
(5)This section applies in relation to benefits in kind as to payments in cash, and in relation to any such benefit references to its amount are to its estimated money value.
The nature of any such benefit shall also be disclosed.
(1)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations for securing the disclosure of the amount of any remuneration received or receivable by a company’s auditors or their associates in respect of services other than those of auditors in their capacity as such.
(2)The regulations may—
(a)provide that “remuneration” includes sums paid in respect of expenses,
(b)apply in relation to benefits in kind as to payments in cash, and in relation to any such benefit require disclosure of its nature and its estimated money value,
(c)define “associate” in relation to an auditor,
(d)require the disclosure of remuneration in respect of services rendered to associated undertakings of the company, and
(e)define “associated undertaking” for that purpose.
(3)The regulations may require the auditors to disclose the relevant information in their report or require the relevant information to be disclosed in a note to the company’s accounts and require the auditors to supply the directors of the company with such information as is necessary to enable that disclosure to be made.
(4)The regulations may make different provision for different cases.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”.
(1)The following sections are inserted in Chapter V of Part XI of the M107Companies Act 1985 (auditors)—
(1)A company may by ordinary resolution at any time remove an auditor from office, notwithstanding anything in any agreement between it and him.
(2)Where a resolution removing an auditor is passed at a general meeting of a company, the company shall within 14 days give notice of that fact in the prescribed form to the registrar.
If a company fails to give the notice required by this subsection, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
(3)Nothing in this section shall be taken as depriving a person removed under it of compensation or damages payable to him in respect of the termination of his appointment as auditor or of any appointment terminating with that as auditor.
(4)An auditor of a company who has been removed has, notwithstanding his removal, the rights conferred by section 390 in relation to any general meeting of the company—
(a)at which his term of office would otherwise have expired, or
(b)at which it is proposed to fill the vacancy caused by his removal.
In such a case the references in that section to matters concerning the auditors as auditors shall be construed as references to matters concerning him as a former auditor.
(1)Special notice is required for a resolution at a general meeting of a company—
(a)removing an auditor before the expiration of his term of office, or
(b)appointing as auditor a person other than a retiring auditor.
(2)On receipt of notice of such an intended resolution the company shall forthwith send a copy of it to the person proposed to be removed or, as the case may be, to the person proposed to be appointed and to the retiring auditor.
(3)The auditor proposed to be removed or (as the case may be) the retiring auditor may make with respect to the intended resolution representations in writing to the company (not exceeding a reasonable length) and request their notification to members of the company.
(4)The company shall (unless the representations are received by it too late for it to do so)—
(a)in any notice of the resolution given to members of the company, state the fact of the representations having been made, and
(b)send a copy of the representations to every member of the company to whom notice of the meeting is or has been sent.
(5)If a copy of any such representations is not sent out as required because received too late or because of the company’s default, the auditor may (without prejudice to his right to be heard orally) require that the representations be read out at the meeting.
(6)Copies of the representations need not be sent out and the representations need not be read at the meeting if, on the application either of the company or of any other person claiming to be aggrieved, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this section are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the court may order the company’s costs on the application to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.
(1)An auditor of a company may resign his office by depositing a notice in writing to that effect at the company’s registered office.
The notice is not effective unless it is accompanied by the statement required by section 394.
(2)An effective notice of resignation operates to bring the auditor’s term of office to an end as of the date on which the notice is deposited or on such later date as may be specified in it.
(3)The company shall within 14 days of the deposit of a notice of resignation send a copy of the notice to the registrar of companies.
If default is made in complying with this subsection, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine.
(1)This section applies where an auditor’s notice of resignation is accompanied by a statement of circumstances which he considers should be brought to the attention of members or creditors of the company.
(2)He may deposit with the notice a signed requisition calling on the directors of the company forthwith duly to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the company for the purpose of receiving and considering such explanation of the circumstances connected with his resignation as he may wish to place before the meeting.
(3)He may request the company to circulate to its members—
(a)before the meeting convened on his requisition, or
(b)before any general meeting at which his term of office would otherwise have expired or at which it is proposed to fill the vacancy caused by his resignation,
a statement in writing (not exceeding a reasonable length) of the circumstances connected with his resignation.
(4)The company shall (unless the statement is received too late for it to comply)—
(a)in any notice of the meeting given to members of the company, state the fact of the statement having been made, and
(b)send a copy of the statement to every member of the company to whom notice of the meeting is or has been sent.
(5)If the directors do not within 21 days from the date of the deposit of a requisition under this section proceed duly to convene a meeting for a day not more than 28 days after the date on which the notice convening the meeting is given, every director who failed to take all reasonable steps to secure that a meeting was convened as mentioned above is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(6)If a copy of the statement mentioned above is not sent out as required because received too late or because of the company’s default, the auditor may (without prejudice to his right to be heard orally) require that the statement be read out at the meeting.
(7)Copies of a statement need not be sent out and the statement need not be read out at the meeting if, on the application either of the company or of any other person who claims to be aggrieved, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this section are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the court may order the company’s costs on such an application to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.
(8)An auditor who has resigned has, notwithstanding his resignation, the rights conferred by section 390 in relation to any such general meeting of the company as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b).
In such a case the references in that section to matters concerning the auditors as auditors shall be construed as references to matters concerning him as a former auditor.
(1)When an election is in force under section 386 (election by private company to dispense with annual appointment), any member of the company may deposit notice in writing at the company’s registered office proposing that the appointment of the company’s auditors be brought to an end.
No member may deposit more than one such notice in any financial year of the company.
(2)If such a notice is deposited it is the duty of the directors—
(a)to convene a general meeting of the company for a date not more than 28 days after the date on which the notice was given, and
(b)to propose at the meeting a resolution in a form enabling the company to decide whether the appointment of the company’s auditors should be brought to an end.
(3)If the decision of the company at the meeting is that the appointment of the auditors should be brought to an end, the auditors shall not be deemed to be re-appointed when next they would be and, if the notice was deposited within the period immediately following the distribution of accounts, any deemed re-appointment for the financial year following that to which those accounts relate which has already occurred shall cease to have effect.
The period immediately following the distribution of accounts means the period beginning with the day on which copies of the company’s annual accounts are sent to members of the company under section 238 and ending 14 days after that day.
(4)If the directors do not within 14 days from the date of the deposit of the notice proceed duly to convene a meeting, the member who deposited the notice (or, if there was more than one, any of them) may himself convene the meeting; but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three months from that date.
(5)A meeting convened under this section by a member shall be convened in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as that in which meetings are to be convened by directors.
(6)Any reasonable expenses incurred by a member by reason of the failure of the directors duly to convene a meeting shall be made good to him by the company; and any such sums shall be recouped by the company from such of the directors as were in default out of any sums payable, or to become payable, by the company by way of fees or other remuneration in respect of their services.
(7)This section has effect notwithstanding anything in any agreement between the company and its auditors; and no compensation or damages shall be payable by reason of the auditors’ appointment being terminated under this section.”.
(2)In Schedule 24 to the M108Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences), at the appropriate place insert—
“391(2) | Failing to give notice to registrar of removal of auditor. | Summary. | One-fifth of the statutory maximum. | One-fiftieth of the statutory maximum. |
392(3) | Company failing to forward notice of auditor’s resignation to registrar. | 1. On indictment. | A fine. | |
2. Summary. | The statutory maximum. | One-tenth of the statutory maximum. | ||
392A(5) | Directors failing to convene meeting requisitioned by resigning auditor. | 1. On indictment. | A fine. | |
2. Summary. | The statutory maximum.”. |
(1)The following section is inserted in Chapter V of Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (auditors)—
(1)Where an auditor ceases for any reason to hold office, he shall deposit at the company’s registered office a statement of any circumstances connected with his ceasing to hold office which he considers should be brought to the attention of the members or creditors of the company or, if he considers that there are no such circumstances, a statement that there are none.
(2)In the case of resignation, the statement shall be deposited along with the notice of resignation; in the case of failure to seek re-appointment, the statement shall be deposited not less than 14 days before the end of the time allowed for next appointing auditors; in any other case, the statement shall be deposited not later than the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which he ceases to hold office.
(3)If the statement is of circumstances which the auditor considers should be brought to the attention of the members or creditors of the company, the company shall within 14 days of the deposit of the statement either—
(a)send a copy of it to every person who under section 238 is entitled to be sent copies of the accounts, or
(b)apply to the court.
(4)The company shall if it applies to the court notify the auditor of the application.
(5)Unless the auditor receives notice of such an application before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he deposited the statement, he shall within a further seven days send a copy of the statement to the registrar.
(6)If the court is satisfied that the auditor is using the statement to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter—
(a)it shall direct that copies of the statement need not be sent out, and
(b)it may further order the company’s costs on the application to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application;
and the company shall within 14 days of the court’s decision send to the persons mentioned in subsection (3)(a) a statement setting out the effect of the order.
(7)If the court is not so satisfied, the company shall within 14 days of the court’s decision—
(a)send copies of the statement to the persons mentioned in subsection (3)(a), and
(b)notify the auditor of the court’s decision;
and the auditor shall within seven days of receiving such notice send a copy of the statement to the registrar.
(1)If a person ceasing to hold office as auditor fails to comply with section 394 he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(2)In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) it is a defence for the person charged to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.
(3)Sections 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to an offence under subsection (1).
(4)If a company makes default in complying with section 394, the company and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, for continued contravention, to a daily default fine.”.
(2)In Schedule 24 to the M109Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences), at the appropriate place insert—
“394A(1) | Person ceasing to hold office as auditor failing to deposit statement as to circumstances. | 1. On indictment. | A fine. | |
2. Summary. | The statutory maximum. | |||
394A(4) | Company failing to comply with requirements as to statement of person ceasing to hold office as auditor. | 1. On indictment. | A fine. | |
2. Summary. | The statutory maximum. | One-tenth of the statutory maximum.”. |
(3)In section 733 of the Companies Act 1985 (liability of individuals for corporate default), in subsection (1) (offences in relation to which provisions apply) after “216(3)” insert “, 394A(1)”.
(4)In section 734 of the Companies Act 1985 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies), in subsection (1) (offences in relation to which the provisions apply), after “under” insert “section 394A(1) or”.
(5)In Schedule 22 to the Companies Act 1985 (unregistered companies), in the entry for sections 384 to 393, for “393” substitute “394A”.
Textual Amendments
F25S. 124 repealed (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 300(1), 302, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3)
(1)For section 706 of the M110Companies Act 1985 (size, durability, &c. of documents delivered to the registrar) substitute—
(1)This section applies to the delivery to the registrar under any provision of the Companies Acts of documents in legible form.
(2)The document must—
(a)state in a prominent position the registered number of the company to which it relates,
(b)satisfy any requirements prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section, and
(c)conform to such requirements as the registrar may specify for the purpose of enabling him to copy the document.
(3)If a document is delivered to the registrar which does not comply with the requirements of this section, he may serve on the person by whom the document was delivered (or, if there are two or more such persons, on any of them) a notice indicating the respect in which the document does not comply.
(4)Where the registrar serves such a notice, then, unless a replacement document—
(a)is delivered to him within 14 days after the service of the notice, and
(b)complies with the requirements of this section (or section 707) or is not rejected by him for failure to comply with those requirements,
the original document shall be deemed not to have been delivered to him.
But for the purposes of any enactment imposing a penalty for failure to deliver, so far as it imposes a penalty for continued contravention, no account shall be taken of the period between the delivery of the original document and the end of the period of 14 days after service of the registrar’s notice.
(5)Regulations made for the purposes of this section may make different provision with respect to different descriptions of document.”.
(2)For section 707 of the Companies Act 1985 (power of registrar to accept information on microfilm, &c.) substitute—
(1)This section applies to the delivery to the registrar under any provision of the Companies Acts of documents otherwise than in legible form.
(2)Any requirement to deliver a document to the registrar, or to deliver a document in the prescribed form, is satisfied by the communication to the registrar of the requisite information in any non-legible form prescribed for the purposes of this section by regulations or approved by the registrar.
(3)Where the document is required to be signed or sealed, it shall instead be authenticated in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations or approved by the registrar.
(4)The document must—
(a)contain in a prominent position the registered number of the company to which it relates,
(b)satisfy any requirements prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section, and
(c)be furnished in such manner, and conform to such requirements, as the registrar may specify for the purpose of enabling him to read and copy the document.
(5)If a document is delivered to the registrar which does not comply with the requirements of this section, he may serve on the person by whom the document was delivered (or, if there are two or more such persons, on any of them) a notice indicating the respect in which the document does not comply.
(6)Where the registrar serves such a notice, then, unless a replacement document—
(a)is delivered to him within 14 days after the service of the notice, and
(b)complies with the requirements of this section (or section 706) or is not rejected by him for failure to comply with those requirements,
the original document shall be deemed not to have been delivered to him.
But for the purposes of any enactment imposing a penalty for failure to deliver, so far as it imposes a penalty for continued contravention, no account shall be taken of the period between the delivery of the original document and the end of the period of 14 days after service of the registrar’s notice.
(7)The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision with respect to the application of this section in relation to instantaneous forms of communication.
(8)Regulations made for the purposes of this section may make different provision with respect to different descriptions of document and different forms of communication, and as respects delivery to the registrar for England and Wales and delivery to the registrar for Scotland.”.
(1)In Part XXIV of the M111Companies Act 1985 (the registrar of companies, his functions and offices), after the sections inserted by section 125 above, insert—
(1)The information contained in a document delivered to the registrar under the Companies Acts may be recorded and kept by him in any form he thinks fit, provided it is possible to inspect the information and to produce a copy of it in legible form.
This is sufficient compliance with any duty of his to keep, file or register the document.
(2)The originals of documents delivered to the registrar in legible form shall be kept by him for ten years, after which they may be destroyed.
(3)Where a company has been dissolved, the registrar may, at any time after the expiration of two years from the date of the dissolution, direct that any records in his custody relating to the company may be removed to the Public Record Office; and records in respect of which such a direction is given shall be disposed of in accordance with the enactments relating to that Office and the rules made under them.
This subsection does not extend to Scotland.
(4)In subsection (3) “company” includes a company provisionally or completely registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act 1844.”.
(2)For sections 709 and 710 of the M112Companies Act 1985 (inspection of documents kept by the registrar) substitute—
(1)Any person may inspect any records kept by the registrar for the purposes of the Companies Acts and may require—
(a)a copy, in such form as the registrar considers appropriate, of any information contained in those records, or
(b)a certified copy of, or extract from, any such record.
(2)The right of inspection extends to the originals of documents delivered to the registrar in legible form only where the record kept by the registrar of the contents of the document is illegible or unavailable.
(3)A copy of or extract from a record kept at any of the offices for the registration of companies in England and Wales or Scotland, certified in writing by the registrar (whose official position it is unnecessary to prove) to be an accurate record of the contents of any document delivered to him under the Companies Acts, is in all legal proceedings admissible in evidence as of equal validity with the original document and as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible.
In England and Wales this is subject to compliance with any applicable rules of court under section 5 of the Civil Evidence Act 1968 or section 69(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (which relate to evidence from computer records).
(4)Copies of or extracts from records furnished by the registrar may, instead of being certified by him in writing to be an accurate record, be sealed with his official seal.
(5)No process for compelling the production of a record kept by the registrar shall issue from any court except with the leave of the court; and any such process shall bear on it a statement that it is issued with the leave of the court.
Any person may require a certificate of the incorporation of a company, signed by the registrar or authenticated by his official seal.
(1)Any requirement of the Companies Acts as to the supply by the registrar of a document may, if the registrar thinks fit, be satisfied by the communication by the registrar of the requisite information in any non-legible form prescribed for the purposes of this section by regulations or approved by him.
(2)Where the document is required to be signed by him or sealed with his official seal, it shall instead be authenticated in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations or approved by the registrar.”.
Commencement Information
I27 S. 126 wholly in force at 1.7.1991, see s. 215(2) and S.I. 1991/488, art. 2(1) (with transitional provisions in art. 3)
Marginal Citations
(1)In Part XXIV of the M113Companies Act 1985 (the registrar of companies, his functions and offices), after section 715 insert—
(1)In this Part—
“document” includes information recorded in any form; and
“legible”, in the context of documents in legible or non-legible form, means capable of being read with the naked eye.
(2)References in this Part to delivering a document include sending, forwarding, producing or (in the case of a notice) giving it.”.
(2)In section 708(1) of the Companies Act 1985 (fees)—
(a)in paragraph (a) for the words from “any notice or other document” to the end substitute “any document which under those Acts is required to be delivered to him”, and
(b)in paragraph (b) omit “or other material”.
(3)Omit sections 712 and 715 of the Companies Act 1985 (removal and destruction of old records).
(4)In section 713(1) (enforcement of duty to make returns, &c.), for the words from “file with” to “or other document” substitute “deliver a document to the registrar of companies”.
(5)In section 735A(2) of the M114Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to Insolvency Act 1986 M115 and Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 as to the Companies Acts)—
(a)after “707(1),” insert “707A(1),”,
(b)after “708(1)(a) and (4),” insert “709(1) and (3),”, and
(c)for “710(5)” substitute “710A”.
(6)After section 735A of the M116Companies Act 1985 insert—
In sections 704(5), 706(1), 707(1), 707A(1), 708(1)(a) and (4), 709(1) and (3), 710A and 713(1) references to the Companies Acts include Parts IV and V of the Financial Services Act 1986.”.
(7)In Schedule 22 to the Companies Act 1985 (unregistered companies), in the entry for Part XXIV for “sections 706, 708 to 710, 712 and 713” substitute “sections 706 to 710A, 713 and 715A”.
Commencement Information
I28S. 127 wholly in force at 1.7.1991. See s. 215(2) and S.I. 1991/488 art. 2(1).
Marginal Citations
Prospective
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F26Ss. 126-129 repealed (1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(2), Sch. 16; S.I. 2008/2860, art. 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (with arts. 7, 8, Sch. 2) (which transitional provisions in Sch. 2 are amended (1.10.2009) by S.I. 2009/2476, arts. 1(3), 2(3)(4) and by S.I. 2009/1802, arts. 1, 18, Sch.)
(1)In Chapter I of Part I of the Companies Act 1985 (company formation), for section 23 (membership of holding company) substitute—
(1)Except as mentioned in this section, a body corporate cannot be a member of a company which is its holding company and any allotment or transfer of shares in a company to its subsidiary is void.
(2)The prohibition does not apply where the subsidiary is concerned only as personal representative or trustee unless, in the latter case, the holding company or a subsidiary of it is beneficially interested under the trust.
For the purpose of ascertaining whether the holding company or a subsidiary is so interested, there shall be disregarded—
(a)any interest held only by way of security for the purposes of a transaction entered into by the holding company or subsidiary in the ordinary course of a business which includes the lending of money;
(b)any such interest as is mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2.
(3)The prohibition does not apply where the subsidiary is concerned only as a market maker.
For this purpose a person is a market maker if—
(a)he holds himself out at all normal times in compliance with the rules of a recognised investment exchange other than an overseas investment exchange (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986) as willing to buy and sell securities at prices specified by him, and
(b)he is recognised as so doing by that investment exchange.
(4)Where a body corporate became a holder of shares in a company—
(a)before 1st July 1948, or
(b)on or after that date and before the commencement of section 129 of the Companies Act 1989, in circumstances in which this section as it then had effect did not apply,
but at any time after the commencement of that section falls within the prohibition in subsection (1) above in respect of those shares, it may continue to be a member of that company; but for so long as that prohibition would apply, apart from this subsection, it has no right to vote in respect of those shares at meetings of the company or of any class of its members.
(5)Where a body corporate becomes a holder of shares in a company after the commencement of that section in circumstances in which the prohibition in subsection (1) does not apply, but subsequently falls within that prohibition in respect of those shares, it may continue to be a member of that company; but for so long as that prohibition would apply, apart from this subsection, it has no right to vote in respect of those shares at meetings of the company or of any class of its members.
(6)Where a body corporate is permitted to continue as a member of a company by virtue of subsection (4) or (5), an allotment to it of fully paid shares in the company may be validly made by way of capitalisation of reserves of the company; but for so long as the prohibition in subsection (1) would apply, apart from subsection (4) or (5), it has no right to vote in respect of those shares at meetings of the company or of any class of its members.
(7)The provisions of this section apply to a nominee acting on behalf of a subsidiary as to the subsidiary itself.
(8)In relation to a company other than a company limited by shares, the references in this section to shares shall be construed as references to the interest of its members as such, whatever the form of that interest.”.
(2)In Schedule 2 to the M117Companies Act 1985 (interpretation of references to “beneficial interest”), in paragraphs 1(1), 3(1) and 4(2) for “as respects section 23(4)” substitute “as this paragraph applies for the purposes of section 23(2)”
(1)In Chapter III of Part I of the Companies Act 1985 (a company’s capacity; the formalities of carrying on business), for section 36 (form of company contracts) substitute—
Under the law of England and Wales a contract may be made—
(a)by a company, by writing under its common seal, or
(b)on behalf of a company, by any person acting under its authority, express or implied;
and any formalities required by law in the case of a contract made by an individual also apply, unless a contrary intention appears, to a contract made by or on behalf of a company.”.
(2)After that section insert—
(1)Under the law of England and Wales the following provisions have effect with respect to the execution of documents by a company.
(2)A document is executed by a company by the affixing of its common seal.
(3)A company need not have a common seal, however, and the following subsections apply whether it does or not.
(4)A document signed by a director and the secretary of a company, or by two directors of a company, and expressed (in whatever form of words) to be executed by the company has the same effect as if executed under the common seal of the company.
(5)A document executed by a company which makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed has effect, upon delivery, as a deed; and it shall be presumed, unless a contrary intention is proved, to be delivered upon its being so executed.
(6)In favour of a purchaser a document shall be deemed to have been duly executed by a company if it purports to be signed by a director and the secretary of the company, or by two directors of the company, and, where it makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed, to have been delivered upon its being executed.
A “purchaser” means a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and includes a lessee, mortgagee or other person who for valuable consideration acquires an interest in property.”.
(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F27
(4)After the section inserted by subsection (3) insert—
(1)A contract which purports to be made by or on behalf of a company at a time when the company has not been formed has effect, subject to any agreement to the contrary, as one made with the person purporting to act for the company or as agent for it, and he is personally liable on the contract accordingly.
(2)Subsection (1) applies—
(a)to the making of a deed under the law of England and Wales, and
(b)to the undertaking of an obligation under the law of Scotland,
as it applies to the making of a contract.”.
(5)In Schedule 22 of the M118Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), at the appropriate place insert—
“Section 36 | Company contracts. | Subject to section 718(3). |
Sections 36A and 36B | Execution of documents. | Subject to section 718(3). |
Section 36C | Pre-incorporation contracts, deeds and obligations. | Subject to section 718(3).”. |
(6)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations applying sections 36 to 36C of the Companies Act 1985 (company contracts; execution of documents; pre-incorporation contracts, deeds and obligations) to companies incorporated outside Great Britain, subject to such exceptions, adaptations or modifications as may be specified in the regulations.
Regulations under this subsection shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(7)Schedule 17 contains further minor and consequential amendments relating to company contracts, the execution of documents by companies and related matters.
Textual Amendments
F27S. 130(3) repealed by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 40, SIF 27; 68A:2; 76:2), s. 74(2), Sch. 9
Marginal Citations
(1)In Part IV of the Companies Act 1985 (allotment of shares and debentures), before section 112 and after the heading “Other matters arising out of allotment &c.”,insert—
A person is not debarred from obtaining damages or other compensation from a company by reason only of his holding or having held shares in the company or any right to apply or subscribe for shares or to be included in the company’s register in respect of shares.”.
(2)In section 116 of the Companies Act 1985 (extended operation of certain provisions applying to public companies) for “and 110 to 115” substitute “, 110, 111 and 112 to 115”.
In Chapter VI of Part V of the Companies Act 1985 (financial assistance by company for purchase of its own shares), in section 153 (transactions not prohibited), for subsection (4)(b) (provision of money in accordance with employees’ share scheme) substitute—
“(b)the provision by a company, in good faith in the interests of the company, of financial assistance for the purposes of an employees’ share scheme,”.
Prospective
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F28Ss. 131-133 repealed (1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(2), Sch. 16; S.I. 2008/2860, art. 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (with arts. 7, 8, Sch. 2) (which transitional provisions in Sch. 2 are amended (1.10.2009) by S.I. 2009/2476, arts. 1(3), 2(3)(4) and by S.I. 2009/1802, arts. 1, 18, Sch.)
(1)Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (disclosure of interests in shares) is amended as follows.
(2)In section 199(2) (notifiable interests), for the words from “the percentage” to the end substitute “3 per cent. of the nominal value of that share capital”.
The order bringing the above amendment into force may make such provision as appears to the Secretary of State appropriate as to the obligations of a person whose interest in a company’s shares becomes notifiable by virtue of the amendment coming into force.
(3)In sections 202(1) and (4) and 206(8) (which require notification of certain matters within a specified period) for “5 days” substitute “2 days”.
(4)In section 202 (particulars to be contained in notification), for subsection (3) substitute—
“(3)A notification (other than one stating that a person no longer has a notifiable interest) shall include the following particulars, so far as known to the person making the notification at the date when it is made—
(a)the identity of each registered holder of shares to which the notification relates and the number of such shares held by each of them, and
(b)the number of such shares in which the interest of the person giving the notification is such an interest as is mentioned in section 208(5).”.
(5)After section 210 insert—
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend—
(a)the definition of “relevant share capital” (section 198(2)),
(b)the percentage giving rise to a “notifiable interest” (section 199(2)),
(c)the periods within which an obligation of disclosure must be fulfilled or a notice must be given (sections 202(1) and (4) and 206(8)),
(d)the provisions as to what is taken to be an interest in shares (section 208) and what interests are to be disregarded (section 209), and
(e)the provisions as to company investigations (section 212);
and the regulations may amend, replace or repeal the provisions referred to above and make such other consequential amendments or repeals of provisions of this Part as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(2)The regulations may in any case make different provision for different descriptions of company; and regulations under subsection (1)(b), (c) or (d) may make different provision for different descriptions of person, interest or share capital.
(3)The regulations may contain such transitional and other supplementary and incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate, and may in particular make provision as to the obligations of a person whose interest in a company’s shares becomes or ceases to be notifiable by virtue of the regulations.
(4)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
(5)No regulations shall be made under this section unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”.
(6)Any regulations made under section 209(1)(j) which are in force immediately before the repeal of that paragraph by this Act shall have effect as if made under section 210A(1)(d) as inserted by subsection (5) above.
Commencement Information
I29S. 134 wholly in force; s. 134(1)-(3)(5)(6) in force 31.5.1990 see S.I. 1990/713, s. 134(4) in force at 1.11.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(2)(a)
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument make such amendments of the provisions of the M119Companies Act 1985 relating to orders imposing restrictions on shares as appear to him necessary or expedient—
(a)for enabling orders to be made in a form protecting the rights of third parties;
(b)with respect to the circumstances in which restrictions may be relaxed or removed;
(c)with respect to the making of interim orders by a court.
(2)The provisions referred to in subsection (1) are section 210(5), section 216(1) and (2), section 445 and Part XV of the Companies Act 1985.
(3)The regulations may make different provision for different cases and may contain such transitional and other supplementary and incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
(4)Regulations under this section shall not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
For section 287 of the Companies Act 1985 (registered office) substitute—
(1)A company shall at all times have a registered office to which all communications and notices may be addressed.
(2)On incorporation the situation of the company’s registered office is that specified in the statement sent to the registrar under section 10.
(3)The company may change the situation of its registered office from time to time by giving notice in the prescribed form to the registrar.
(4)The change takes effect upon the notice being registered by the registrar, but until the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which it is registered a person may validly serve any document on the company at its previous registered office.
(5)For the purposes of any duty of a company—
(a)to keep at its registered office, or make available for public inspection there, any register, index or other document, or
(b)to mention the address of its registered office in any document,
a company which has given notice to the registrar of a change in the situation of its registered office may act on the change as from such date, not more than 14 days after the notice is given, as it may determine.
(6)Where a company unavoidably ceases to perform at its registered office any such duty as is mentioned in subsection (5)(a) in circumstances in which it was not practicable to give prior notice to the registrar of a change in the situation of its registered office, but—
(a)resumes performance of that duty at other premises as soon as practicable, and
(b)gives notice accordingly to the registrar of a change in the situation of its registered office within 14 days of doing so,
it shall not be treated as having failed to comply with that duty.
(7)In proceedings for an offence of failing to comply with any such duty as is mentioned in subsection (5), it is for the person charged to show that by reason of the matters referred to in that subsection or subsection (6) no offence was committed.”.
(1)In section 310 of the M120Companies Act 1985 (provisions exempting officers and auditors from liability), for subsection (3) (permitted provisions) substitute—
“(3)This section does not prevent a company—
(a)from purchasing and maintaining for any such officer or auditor insurance against any such liability, or
(b)from indemnifying any such officer or auditor against any liability incurred by him—
(i)in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in his favour or he is acquitted, or
(ii)in connection with any application under section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct) in which relief is granted to him by the court.”.
(2)In Part I of Schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1985 (general matters to be dealt with in directors’ report), after paragraph 5 insert—
“ Insurance effected for officers or auditors5AWhere in the financial year the company has purchased or maintained any such insurance as is mentioned in section 310(3)(a) (insurance of officers or auditors against liabilities in relation to the company), that fact shall be stated in the report.”
Part X of the M121Companies Act 1985 (enforcement of fair dealing by directors) is amended as follows—
(a)in section 332(1)(b) (short-term quasi-loans) for “£1,000” substitute “£5,000”;
(b)in section 334 (loans of small amounts) for “£2,500” substitute “£5,000”;
(c)in section 338(4) and (6) (loans or quasi-loans by money-lending company) for “£50,000” substitute “£100,000”.
(1)In Part XI of the Companies Act 1985 (company administration and procedure), for Chapter III (annual return) substitute—
(1)Every company shall deliver to the registrar successive annual returns each of which is made up to a date not later than the date which is from time to time the company’s “return date”, that is—
(a)the anniversary of the company’s incorporation, or
(b)if the company’s last return delivered in accordance with this Chapter was made up to a different date, the anniversary of that date.
(2)Each return shall—
(a)be in the prescribed form,
(b)contain the information required by or under the following provisions of this Chapter, and
(c)be signed by a director or the secretary of the company;
and it shall be delivered to the registrar within 28 days after the date to which it is made up.
(3)If a company fails to deliver an annual return in accordance with this Chapter before the end of the period of 28 days after a return date, the company is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and, in the case of continued contravention, to a daily default fine.
The contravention continues until such time as an annual return made up to that return date and complying with the requirements of subsection (2) (except as to date of delivery) is delivered by the company to the registrar.
(4)Where a company is guilty of an offence under subsection (3), every director or secretary of the company is similarly liable unless he shows that he took all reasonable steps to avoid the commission or continuation of the offence.
(5)The references in this section to a return being delivered “in accordance with this Chapter” are—
(a)in relation to a return made after the commencement of section 139 of the Companies Act 1989, to a return with respect to which all the requirements of subsection (2) are complied with;
(b)in relation to a return made before that commencement, to a return with respect to which the formal and substantive requirements of this Chapter as it then had effect were complied with, whether or not the return was delivered in time.
(1)Every annual return shall state the date to which it is made up and shall contain the following information—
(a)the address of the company’s registered office;
(b)the type of company it is and its principal business activities;
(c)the name and address of the company secretary;
(d)the name and address of every director of the company;
(e)in the case of each individual director—
(i)his nationality, date of birth and business occupation, and
(ii)such particulars of other directorships and former names as are required to be contained in the company’s register of directors;
(f)in the case of any corporate director, such particulars of other directorships as would be required to be contained in that register in the case of an individual;
(g)if the register of members is not kept at the company’s registered office, the address of the place where it is kept;
(h)if any register of debenture holders (or a duplicate of any such register or a part of it) is not kept at the company’s registered office, the address of the place where it is kept;
(i)if the company has elected—
(i)to dispense under section 252 with the laying of accounts and reports before the company in general meeting, or
(ii)to dispense under section 366A with the holding of annual general meetings,
a statement to that effect.
(2)The information as to the company’s type shall be given by reference to the classification scheme prescribed for the purposes of this section.
(3)The information as to the company’s principal business activities may be given by reference to one or more categories of any prescribed system of classifying business activities.
(4)A person’s “name” and “address” mean, respectively—
(a)in the case of an individual, his Christian name (or other forename) and surname and his usual residential address;
(b)in the case of a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name and its registered or principal office.
(5)In the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname or in addition to either or both of them.
(6)Where all the partners in a firm are joint secretaries, the name and principal office of the firm may be stated instead of the names and addresses of the partners.
(1)The annual return of a company having a share capital shall contain the following information with respect to its share capital and members.
(2)The return shall state the total number of issued shares of the company at the date to which the return is made up and the aggregate nominal value of those shares.
(3)The return shall state with respect to each class of shares in the company—
(a)the nature of the class, and
(b)the total number and aggregate nominal value of issued shares of that class at the date to which the return is made up.
(4)The return shall contain a list of the names and addresses of every person who—
(a)is a member of the company on the date to which the return is made up, or
(b)has ceased to be a member of the company since the date to which the last return was made up (or, in the case of the first return, since the incorporation of the company);
and if the names are not arranged in alphabetical order the return shall have annexed to it an index sufficient to enable the name of any person in the list to be easily found.
(5)The return shall also state—
(a)the number of shares of each class held by each member of the company at the date to which the return is made up, and
(b)the number of shares of each class transferred since the date to which the last return was made up (or, in the case of the first return, since the incorporation of the company) by each member or person who has ceased to be a member, and the dates of registration of the transfers.
(6)The return may, if either of the two immediately preceding returns has given the full particulars required by subsections (4) and (5), give only such particulars as relate to persons ceasing to be or becoming members since the date of the last return and to shares transferred since that date.
(7)Subsections (4) and (5) do not require the inclusion of particulars entered in an overseas branch register if copies of those entries have not been received at the company’s registered office by the date to which the return is made up.
Those particulars shall be included in the company’s next annual return after they are received.
(8)Where the company has converted any of its shares into stock, the return shall give the corresponding information in relation to that stock, stating the amount of stock instead of the number or nominal value of shares.
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision as to the information to be given in a company’s annual return, which may amend or repeal the provisions of sections 364 and 364A.
(2)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(3)For the purposes of this Chapter, except section 363(2)(c) (signature of annual return), a shadow director shall be deemed to be a director.”.
(2)Where a company was, immediately before the commencement of this section, in default with respect to the delivery of one or more annual returns, this section does not affect its obligation to make such a return (in accordance with Chapter III of Part XI of the M122Companies Act 1985 as it then had effect) or any liability arising from failure to do so.
(3)In Schedule 24 to the Companies Act 1985 (punishment of offences) in the entry relating to section 363(7), in the first column for “363(7)” substitute “363(3)”.
(4)In Schedule 1 to the M123Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (matters relevant to determining unfitness of directors), in paragraph 4 (failure of company to comply with certain provisions), for sub-paragraphs (f) and (g) substitute—
“(f)section 363 (duty of company to make annual returns);”.
(5)In section 565(6) of the M124Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (conditions for exemption from provisions relating to sub-contractors in construction industry: compliance with requirements of M125Companies Act 1985), in paragraph (d) for “sections 363, 364 and 365” substitute “sections 363 to 365”.
(1)In section 463 of the Companies Act 1985 (effect of floating charge on winding up), in subsection (1) for the words “On the commencement of the winding up of a company,” there shall be substituted the words “ Where a company goes into liquidation within the meaning of section 247(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986, ”.
(2)Section 464 of the Companies Act 1985 (ranking of floating charges) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsection (1)(b) at the beginning there shall be inserted the words “ with the consent of the holder of any subsisting floating charge or fixed security which would be adversely affected, ”.
(4)After subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
“(1A)Where an instrument creating a floating charge contains any such provision as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a), that provision shall be effective to confer priority on the floating charge over any fixed security or floating charge created after the date of the instrument.”.
(5)For subsection (3) there shall be substituted—
“(3)The order of ranking of the floating charge with any other subsisting or future floating charges or fixed securities over all or any part of the company’s property is determined in accordance with the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) except where it is determined in accordance with any provision such as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1).”.
(6)In subsection (5) at the end there shall be added the following paragraph—
“; and
(e)(in the case of a floating charge to secure a contingent liability other than a liability arising under any further advances made from time to time) the maximum sum to which that contingent liability is capable of amounting whether or not it is contractually limited.”.
(7)In subsection (6) after the words “subject to” there shall be inserted the words “ Part XII and to ”.
(8)In section 466 of the Companies Act 1985 (alteration of floating charges), subsections (4) and (5) and in subsection (6) the words “falling under subsection (4) of this section” shall cease to have effect.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C14S. 140(1) restricted (20.5.1995) by S.I. 1995/1352, art.4
S. 140(3) restricted (20.5.1995) by S.I. 1995/1352, art.5
S. 140(6) restricted (20.5.1995) by S.I. 1995/1352, art.8
Commencement Information
I30S. 140 partly in force; s. 140 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 215(1)(2); s. 140(1)-(6) in force at 3.7.1995 by S.I. 1995/1352, art. 3(a)
(1)Section 651 of the M126Companies Act 1985 (power of court to declare dissolution of company void) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1) omit the words “at any time within 2 years of the date of the dissolution”.
(3)After subsection (3) add—
“(4)Subject to the following provisions, an application under this section may not be made after the end of the period of two years from the date of the dissolution of the company.
(5)An application for the purpose of bringing proceedings against the company—
(a)for damages in respect of personal injuries (including any sum claimed by virtue of section 1(2)(c) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 (funeral expenses)), or
(b)for damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 or the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976,
may be made at any time; but no order shall be made on such an application if it appears to the court that the proceedings would fail by virtue of any enactment as to the time within which proceedings must be brought.
(6)Nothing in subsection (5) affects the power of the court on making an order under this section to direct that the period between the dissolution of the company and the making of the order shall not count for the purposes of any such enactment.
(7)In subsection (5)(a) “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.”.
(4)An application may be made under section 651(5) of the Companies Act 1985 as inserted by subsection (3) above (proceedings for damages for personal injury, &c.) in relation to a company dissolved before the commencement of this section notwithstanding that the time within which the dissolution might formerly have been declared void under that section had expired before commencement.
But no such application shall be made in relation to a company dissolved more than twenty years before the commencement of this section.
(5)Except as provided by subsection (4), the amendments made by this section do not apply in relation to a company which was dissolved more than two years before the commencement of this section.
Prospective
(1)In Part XXIV of the Companies Act 1985 (the registrar of companies, his functions and offices), after section 711 insert—
(1)A person shall not be taken to have notice of any matter merely because of its being disclosed in any document kept by the registrar of companies (and thus available for inspection) or made available by the company for inspection.
(2)This does not affect the question whether a person is affected by notice of any matter by reason of a failure to make such inquiries as ought reasonably to be made.
(3)In this section “document” includes any material which contains information.
(4)Nothing in this section affects the operation of—
(a)section 416 of this Act (under which a person taking a charge over a company’s property is deemed to have notice of matters disclosed on the companies charges register), or
(b)section 198 of the Law of Property Act 1925 as it applies by virtue of section 3(7) of the Land Charges Act 1972 (under which the registration of certain land charges under Part XII, or Chapter III of Part XXIII, of this Act is deemed to constitute actual notice for all purposes connected with the land affected).”.
(2)In Schedule 22 to the M127Companies Act 1985 (unregistered companies), in the entry for Part XXIV at the appropriate place insert—
“Section 711A | Abolition of doctrine of deemed notice. | Subject to section 718(3).”. |
(1)In Part XXV of the Companies Act 1985 (miscellaneous and supplementary provisions), after section 723 insert—
(1)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the obligations of a company which is required by any provision of this Act—
(a)to make available for inspection any register, index or document, or
(b)to provide copies of any such register, index or document, or part of it;
and a company which fails to comply with the regulations shall be deemed to have refused inspection or, as the case may be, to have failed to provide a copy.
(2)The regulations may make provision as to the time, duration and manner of inspection, including the circumstances in which and extent to which the copying of information is permitted in the course of inspection.
(3)The regulations may define what may be required of the company as regards the nature, extent and manner of extracting or presenting any information for the purposes of inspection or the provision of copies.
(4)Where there is power to charge a fee, the regulations may make provision as to the amount of the fee and the basis of its calculation.
(5)Regulations under this section may make different provision for different classes of case.
(6)Nothing in any provision of this Act or in the regulations shall be construed as preventing a company from affording more extensive facilities than are required by the regulations or, where a fee may be charged, from charging a lesser fee than that prescribed or no fee at all.
(7)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”.
(2)In section 169(5) of the M128Companies Act 1985 (contract for purchase by company of its own shares), omit the words from “, during business hours” to “for inspection)”.
(3)In section 175(6) of the Companies Act 1985 (statutory declaration and auditors’ report relating to payment out of capital), in paragraph (b) omit the words from “during business hours” to “period”.
(4)In section 191 of the Companies Act 1985 (register of debenture holders)—
(a)in subsection (1), omit the words from “(but” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “a fee of 5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”;
(b)in subsection (2) for the words from “10 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and
(c)in subsection (3), after “on payment” insert “of such fee as may be prescribed” and omit paragraphs (a) and (b).
(5)In section 219 of the Companies Act 1985 (register of interests in shares, &c.)—
(a)in subsection (1), omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)”; and
(b)in subsection (2) for the words from “10 pence” to “required to be copied” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.
(6)In section 288 of the Companies Act 1985 (register of directors and secretaries), in subsection (3), omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.
(7)In section 318 of the Companies Act 1985 (directors’ service contracts), in subsection (7) omit the words from “, during business hours” to “for inspection)”.
(8)In section 356 of the Companies Act 1985 (register and index of members’ names)—
(a)in subsection (1), omit “during business hours” and for “the appropriate charge” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”;
(b)omit subsection (2);
(c)in subsection (3) for “the appropriate charge” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and
(d)omit subsection (4).
(9)In section 383 of the Companies Act 1985 (minutes of proceedings of general meetings)—
(a)in subsection (1), omit “during business hours”;
(b)omit subsection (2); and
(c)in subsection (3), after “entitled” insert “on payment of such fee as may be prescribed” and omit the words from “at a charge” to the end.
(10)In Part IV of Schedule 13 to the M129Companies Act 1985 (register of directors’ interests)—
(a)in paragraph 25, omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and
(b)in paragraph 26(1), for the words from “10 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.
(11)In Schedule 22 to the Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), in the entry relating to Part XXV at the appropriate place insert—
“Section 723A | Rights of inspection and related matters. | To apply only so far as this provision has effect in relation to provisions applying by virtue of the foregoing provisions of this Schedule.”. |
Commencement Information
I31S. 143 wholly in force at 1.11.1991 see s. 215 and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(2)(b)
Marginal Citations
(1)In Part XXVI of the Companies Act 1985 (general interpretation provisions), for section 736 substitute—
(1)A company is a “subsidiary” of another company, its “holding company”, if that other company—
(a)holds a majority of the voting rights in it, or
(b)is a member of it and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board of directors, or
(c)is a member of it and controls alone, pursuant to an agreement with other shareholders or members, a majority of the voting rights in it,
or if it is a subsidiary of a company which is itself a subsidiary of that other company.
(2)A company is a “wholly-owned subsidiary” of another company if it has no members except that other and that other’s wholly-owned subsidiaries or persons acting on behalf of that other or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
(3)In this section “company” includes any body corporate.
(1)The provisions of this section explain expressions used in section 736 and otherwise supplement that section.
(2)In section 736(1)(a) and (c) the references to the voting rights in a company are to the rights conferred on shareholders in respect of their shares or, in the case of a company not having a share capital, on members, to vote at general meetings of the company on all, or substantially all, matters.
(3)In section 736(1)(b) the reference to the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors is to the right to appoint or remove directors holding a majority of the voting rights at meetings of the board on all, or substantially all, matters; and for the purposes of that provision—
(a)a company shall be treated as having the right to appoint to a directorship if—
(i)a person’s appointment to it follows necessarily from his appointment as director of the company, or
(ii)the directorship is held by the company itself; and
(b)a right to appoint or remove which is exercisable only with the consent or concurrence of another person shall be left out of account unless no other person has a right to appoint or, as the case may be, remove in relation to that directorship.
(4)Rights which are exercisable only in certain circumstances shall be taken into account only—
(a)when the circumstances have arisen, and for so long as they continue to obtain, or
(b)when the circumstances are within the control of the person having the rights;
and rights which are normally exercisable but are temporarily incapable of exercise shall continue to be taken into account.
(5)Rights held by a person in a fiduciary capacity shall be treated as not held by him.
(6)Rights held by a person as nominee for another shall be treated as held by the other; and rights shall be regarded as held as nominee for another if they are exercisable only on his instructions or with his consent or concurrence.
(7)Rights attached to shares held by way of security shall be treated as held by the person providing the security—
(a)where apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose of preserving the value of the security, or of realising it, the rights are exercisable only in accordance with his instructions;
(b)where the shares are held in connection with the granting of loans as part of normal business activities and apart from the right to exercise them for the purpose of preserving the value of the security, or of realising it, the rights are exercisable only in his interests.
(8)Rights shall be treated as held by a company if they are held by any of its subsidiaries; and nothing in subsection (6) or (7) shall be construed as requiring rights held by a company to be treated as held by any of its subsidiaries.
(9)For the purposes of subsection (7) rights shall be treated as being exercisable in accordance with the instructions or in the interests of a company if they are exercisable in accordance with the instructions of or, as the case may be, in the interests of—
(a)any subsidiary or holding company of that company, or
(b)any subsidiary of a holding company of that company.
(10)The voting rights in a company shall be reduced by any rights held by the company itself.
(11)References in any provision of subsections (5) to (10) to rights held by a person include rights falling to be treated as held by him by virtue of any other provision of those subsections but not rights which by virtue of any such provision are to be treated as not held by him.
(12)In this section “company” includes any body corporate.”.
(2)Any reference in any enactment (including any enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act M1301978) to a “subsididary” or “holding company” within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Act M1311985 shall, subject to any express amendment or saving made by or under this Act, be read as referring to a subsidiary or holding company as defined in section 736 as substituted by subsection (1) above.
This applies whether the reference is specific or general, or express or implied.
(3)In Part XXVI of the Companies Act 1985 (general interpretation provisions), after section 736A insert—
(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend sections 736 and 736A so as to alter the meaning of the expressions “holding company”, “subsidiary” or “wholly-owned subsidiary”.
(2)The regulations may make different provision for different cases or classes of case and may contain such incidental and supplementary provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(3)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4)Any amendment made by regulations under this section does not apply for the purposes of enactments outside the Companies Acts unless the regulations so provide.
(5)So much of section 23(3) of the Interpretation Act 1978 as applies section 17(2)(a) of that Act (effect of repeal and re-enactment) to deeds, instruments and documents other than enactments shall not apply in relation to any repeal and re-enactment effected by regulations made under this section.”.
(4)Schedule 18 contains amendments and savings consequential on the amendments made by this section; and the Secretary of State may by regulations make such further amendments or savings as appear to him to be necessary or expedient.
(5)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(6)So much of section 23(3) of the Interpretation Act 1978 as applies section 17(2)(a) of that Act (presumption as to meaning of references to enactments repealed and re-enacted) to deeds or other instruments or documents does not apply in relation to the repeal and re-enactment by this section of section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.