Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004

Supervision of accounts and reports U.K.

14 Supervision of periodic accounts and reports of issuers of listed securities U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may make an order appointing a body (“the prescribed body”) to exercise the functions mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) The functions are—

(a) keeping under review periodic accounts and reports that are produced by issuers of [F1 transferable] securities and are required to comply with any accounting requirements imposed by [F2 Part 6] rules; and

(b) if the prescribed body thinks fit, informing the [F3 Financial Conduct Authority] of any conclusions reached by the body in relation to any such accounts or report.

(3) A body may be appointed under this section if it is a body corporate or an unincorporated association which appears to the Secretary of State—

(a) to have an interest in, and to have satisfactory procedures directed to, monitoring compliance by issuers of [F4 transferable] securities with accounting requirements imposed by [F5 Part 6] rules in relation to periodic accounts and reports produced by such issuers; and

(b) otherwise to be a fit and proper body to be appointed.

(4) But where the order is to contain any requirements or other provisions specified under subsection (8), the Secretary of State may not appoint a body unless, in addition, it appears to him that the body would, if appointed, exercise its functions as a prescribed body in accordance with any such requirements or provisions.

(5) A body may be appointed either generally or in respect of any of the following, namely—

(a) any particular class or classes of issuers,

(b) any particular class or classes of periodic accounts or reports,

and different bodies may be appointed in respect of different classes within either or both of paragraphs (a) and (b).

(6) In relation to the appointment of a body in respect of any such class or classes, subsections (2) and (3) are to be read as referring to issuers, or (as the case may be) to periodic accounts or reports, of the class or classes concerned.

(7) Where—

(a) a body is so appointed, but

(b) the [F6 Financial Conduct Authority] requests the body to exercise its functions under subsection (2) in relation to any particular issuer of [F7 transferable] securities in relation to whom those functions would not otherwise be exercisable,

the body is to exercise those functions in relation to that issuer as well.

(8) An order under this section may contain such requirements or other provisions relating to the exercise of functions by the prescribed body as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(9) If the prescribed body is an unincorporated association, any relevant proceedings may be brought by or against that body in the name of any body corporate whose constitution provides for the establishment of the body.

For this purpose “relevant proceedings” means proceedings brought in or in connection with the exercise of any function by the body as a prescribed body.

(10) Where an appointment is revoked, the revoking order may make such provision as the Secretary of State thinks fit with respect to pending proceedings.

(11) The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(12) In this section [F8 and sections 15A to 15E below] —

• [F9 [F10 “Part 6 rules” has] the meaning given by section 103(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) (interpretation of Part 6);

• [F11 issuer” has the meaning given by section 102A(6) of that Act;]]

• “periodic” accounts and reports means accounts and reports which are required by [F12 Part 6] rules to be produced periodically.

• [F13 issuer” has the meaning given by section 102A(6) of that Act;]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 14(2)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(2)(a)

F2 Words in s. 14(2)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(2)(b)

F3 Words in s. 14(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 18 para. 103 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

F4 Word in s. 14(3)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(3)(a)

F5 Words in s. 14(3)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(3)(b)

F6 Words in s. 14(7)(b) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 18 para. 103 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

F7 Word in s. 14(7)(b) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(4)

F8 Words in s. 14(12) inserted (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(1) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F9 Words in s. 14(12) substituted (1.7.2005) by The Prospectus Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1433), reg. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 5

F10 Words in s. 14(12) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(5)(a)

F11 Words in s. 14(12) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(5)(b)

F12 Word in s. 14(12) substituted (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(5)(c)

F13 Words in s. 14(12) added (8.11.2006) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(1), Sch. 15 para. 14(5)(d)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 14 in force at 1.1.2005 by S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

[F14 15 Application of sections 15A to 15E U.K.

[F15 (1) The provisions of sections 15A to 15E have effect in relation to bodies appointed under section 14 (supervision of accounts and reports of issuers of transferable securities).

(2) In those sections—

(a) “prescribed body” means a body appointed under that section; and

(b) references to the functions of a prescribed body are to its functions under that section.]]

Textual Amendments

F14 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F15 S. 15 repealed (N.I.) (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

[F16 15A. Disclosure of information by tax authorities U.K.

(1) The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs may disclose information to a prescribed body for the purposes of its functions.

(2) This section applies despite any statutory or other restriction on the disclosure of information.

Provided that, in the case of personal data F17 ... , information is not to be disclosed in contravention of [F18 the data protection legislation].

(3) Information disclosed to a prescribed body under this section—

(a) may only be used for the purposes of its functions, and

(b) must not be further disclosed except to the person to whom the information relates.

(4) A person who contravenes subsection (3) commits an offence unless—

(a) the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information had been disclosed under this section, or

(b) the person took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction—

(i) in England and Wales or Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(ii) in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).

(6) In subsection (5)(b)(i) as it applies in relation to England and Wales [F19 the reference to twelve months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to six months in the case of an offence committed before 2 May 2022).]

(7) Sections 400, 401 and 403 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (supplementary provisions relating to offences) apply in relation to an offence under this section.

[F20 (8) In this section—

• “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act);

• “personal data” has the same meaning as in Parts 5 to 7 of that Act (see section 3(2) and (14) of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F17 Words in s. 15A(2) omitted (25.5.2018) by virtue of Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 101(2)(a) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

F18 Words in s. 15A(2) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 101(2)(b) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

F19 Words in s. 15A(6) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 12(2)

F20 S. 15A(8) inserted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 101(3) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

15B. Power of prescribed body to require documents, information and explanations U.K.

(1) This section applies where it appears to a prescribed body that there is, or may be, a question whether the periodic accounts and reports produced by an issuer of transferable securities comply with any accounting requirements imposed by Part 6 rules.

(2) The prescribed body may require any of the persons mentioned in subsection (3) to produce any document, or to provide any information or explanations, that the body may reasonably require for the purpose of its functions.

(3) Those persons are—

(a) the issuer;

(b) any officer, employee, or auditor of the issuer;

(c) any persons who fell within paragraph (b) at a time to which the document or information required by the prescribed body relates.

(4) If a person fails to comply with such a requirement, the prescribed body may apply to the court.

(5) If it appears to the court that the person has failed to comply with a requirement under subsection (2), it may order the person to take such steps as it directs for securing that the documents are produced or the information or explanations are provided.

(6) A statement made by a person in response to a requirement under subsection (2) or an order under subsection (5) may not be used in evidence against him in any criminal proceedings.

(7) Nothing in this section compels any person to disclose documents or information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege (in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications) could be maintained in legal proceedings.

(8) In this section—

• “the court” means the High Court or the Court of Session; and

• “document” includes information recorded in any form.

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

15C. Restrictions on disclosure of information obtained under compulsory powers U.K.

(1) This section applies to information (in whatever form) obtained in pursuance of a requirement or order under section 15B (power of prescribed body to require documents etc) that relates to the private affairs of an individual or to any particular business.

(2) No such information may, during the lifetime of that individual or so long as that business continues to be carried on, be disclosed without the consent of that individual or the person for the time being carrying on that business.

(3) This does not apply—

(a) to disclosure permitted by section 15D (permitted disclosure of information obtained under compulsory powers), or

(b) to the disclosure of information that is or has been available to the public from another source.

(4) A person who discloses information in contravention of this section commits an offence, unless—

(a) the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information had been disclosed under section 15B, or

(b) the person took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction—

(i) in England and Wales or Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

(ii) in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).

(6) In subsection (5)(b)(i) as it applies in relation to England and Wales [F21 the reference to twelve months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to six months in the case of an offence committed before 2 May 2022).]

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F21 Words in s. 15C(6) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 12(3)

15D. Permitted disclosure of information obtained under compulsory powers U.K.

(1) The prohibition in section 15C of the disclosure of information obtained in pursuance of a requirement or order under section 15B (power of prescribed body to require documents etc) that relates to the private affairs of an individual or to any particular business has effect subject to the following exceptions.

(2) It does not apply to the disclosure of information for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the prescribed body of its functions.

(3) It does not apply to disclosure to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland,

(c) the Treasury,

(d) the Bank of England [F22 (including the Bank in its capacity as the Prudential Regulation Authority)],

(e) the [F23 Financial Conduct Authority], or

(f) the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

(4) It does not apply to disclosure—

(a) for the purpose of assisting a body designated by an order under section 1252 of the Companies Act 2006 (delegation of functions of the Secretary of State) to exercise its functions under Part 42 of that Act (statutory auditors);

[F24 (aa) for the purposes of facilitating—

(i) the carrying out of inspections under paragraph 1 of Schedule 12 to the Companies Act 2006 (arrangements for independent monitoring of audits of [F25 UK-traded third country companies]); or

(ii) the carrying out of investigations under paragraph 2 of that Schedule (arrangements for independent investigations for disciplinary purposes).]

[F26 (ab) for the purposes of enabling the competent authority to exercise its functions under the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 or under Regulation (EU) 537/2014 on specific requirements regarding statutory audit of public interest entities;]

(b) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, disciplinary proceedings relating to the performance by an accountant or auditor of his professional duties;

(c) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Secretary of State or the Treasury to exercise any of their functions under any of the following—

(i) the Companies Acts (as defined in section 2 of the Companies Act 2006),

(ii) Part 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 (insider dealing),

(iii) the Insolvency Act 1986 or the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989,

(iv) the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002,

(v) the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(d) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland to exercise any powers conferred on it by the enactments relating to companies, directors’ disqualification or insolvency;

(e) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Bank of England [F27 (acting otherwise than in its capacity as the Prudential Regulation Authority)] to exercise its functions;

(f) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to exercise their functions;

(g) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the [F28 Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority] to exercise its functions under any of the following—

(i) the legislation relating to friendly societies F29 ...,

[F30 (ia) the Credit Unions Act 1979,]

(ii) the Building Societies Act 1986,

(iii) Part 7 of the Companies Act 1989,

(iv) the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

[F31 (v) the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014;] or

(h) in pursuance of any [F32 [F33 assimilated] obligation].

(5) It does not apply to disclosure to a body exercising functions of a public nature under legislation in any country or territory outside the United Kingdom that appear to the prescribed body to be similar to its functions for the purpose of enabling or assisting that body to exercise those functions.

(6) In determining whether to disclose information to a body in accordance with subsection (5), the prescribed body must have regard to the following considerations—

(a) whether the use which the other body is likely to make of the information is sufficiently important to justify making the disclosure;

(b) whether the other body has adequate arrangements to prevent the information from being used or further disclosed other than—

(i) for the purposes of carrying out the functions mentioned in that subsection, or

(ii) for other purposes substantially similar to those for which information disclosed to the prescribed body could be used or further disclosed.

(7) Nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure in contravention of [F34 the data protection legislation].

[F35 (8) In this section, “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)

F22 Words in s. 15D(3)(d) inserted (1.3.2017) by The Bank of England and Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/80), reg. 1, Sch. para. 14(a)

F23 Words in s. 15D(3)(e) substituted (1.3.2017) by The Bank of England and Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/80), reg. 1, Sch. para. 14(b)

F24 S. 15D(4)(aa) substituted (17.6.2016) by The Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/649), reg. 1(1)(a), Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(a) (with reg. 1(11))

F25 Words in s. 15D(4)(aa)(i) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/177), regs. 2, 42(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F26 S. 15D(4)(ab) inserted (17.6.2016) by The Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/649), reg. 1(1)(a), Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(b)

F27 Words in s. 15D(4)(e) inserted (1.3.2017) by The Bank of England and Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/80), reg. 1, Sch. para. 14(c)

F28 Words in s. 15D(4)(g) substituted (1.3.2017) by The Bank of England and Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/80), reg. 1, Sch. para. 14(d)

F29 Words in s. 15D(4)(g)(i) omitted (1.8.2014) by virtue of Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 88(2) (with Sch. 5)

F30 S. 15D(4)(g)(ia) inserted (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 88(3) (with Sch. 5)

F31 S. 15D(4)(g)(v) inserted (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 88(4) (with Sch. 5)

F32 Words in s. 15D(4)(h) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/177), regs. 2, 42(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F33 Word in s. 15D(4)(h) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 55

F34 Words in s. 15D(7) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 102(2) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

F35 S. 15D(8) inserted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 102(3) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

15E. Power to amend categories of permitted disclosure U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order amend section 15D(3), (4) and (5).

(2) An order under this section must not—

(a) amend subsection (3) of that section (UK public authorities) by specifying a person unless the person exercises functions of a public nature (whether or not he exercises any other function);

(b) amend subsection (4) of that section (purposes for which disclosure permitted) by adding or modifying a description of disclosure unless the purpose for which the disclosure is permitted is likely to facilitate the exercise of a function of a public nature;

(c) amend subsection (5) of that section (overseas regulatory authorities) so as to have the effect of permitting disclosures to be made to a body other than one that exercises functions of a public nature in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.

(3) The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 15-15E substituted for s. 15 (6.4.2008) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/948), art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 232(2) (with arts. 6, 11, 12)