Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004
2004 c. 27
An Act to amend the law relating to company auditors and accounts, to the provision that may be made in respect of certain liabilities incurred by a company’s officers, and to company investigations; to make provision for community interest companies; and for connected purposes.
[28th October 2004]
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:—
14 Supervision of periodic accounts and reports of issuers of listed securities
(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 transferable securities and are required to comply with any accounting requirements imposed by Part 6 rules; and
(b) if the prescribed body thinks fit, informing the 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 transferable securities with accounting requirements imposed by 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 Financial Conduct Authority requests the body to exercise its functions under subsection (2) in relation to any particular issuer of 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 and sections 15A to 15E below —
“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);
issuer” has the meaning given by section 102A(6) of that Act;
“periodic” accounts and reports means accounts and reports which are required by Part 6 rules to be produced periodically.
issuer” has the meaning given by section 102A(6) of that Act;
(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.
(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 ... , information is not to be disclosed in contravention of 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 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.
(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).
15B Power of prescribed body to require documents, information and explanations
(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.
15C Restrictions on disclosure of information obtained under compulsory powers
(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 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).
15D Permitted disclosure of information obtained under compulsory powers
(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 (including the Bank in its capacity as the Prudential Regulation Authority),
(e) the 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);
(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 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).
(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 (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 Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority to exercise its functions under any of the following—
(i) the legislation relating to friendly societies ...,
(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;
(v) the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014; or
(h) in pursuance of any 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 the data protection legislation.
(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).
15E Power to amend categories of permitted disclosure
(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.
16 Grants to bodies concerned with accounting standards etc.
(1) The Secretary of State may make grants to any body carrying on activities concerned with any of the matters set out in subsection (2).
(2) The matters are—
(a) issuing accounting standards;
(b) issuing standards in respect of matters to be contained in reports required to be produced by auditors or company directors;
(c) investigating departures from standards within paragraph (a) or (b) or from the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 or any requirements of directly applicable EU legislation relating to company accounts;
(d) taking steps to secure compliance with such standards or requirements;
(e) keeping under review periodic accounts and reports that are produced by issuers of listed securities and are required to comply with any accounting requirements imposed by listing rules;
(ea) exercising the functions of the competent authority under the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 and under Regulation (EU) 537/2014 on specific requirements regarding statutory audit of public interest entities;
(eb) assessing, and reporting to the Secretary of State on, the comparability of the audit regulatory regimes of third countries to the audit regulatory regime of the United Kingdom;
(ec) assessing, and reporting to the Secretary of State on, the adequacy of third country competent authorities, in relation to their ability to co-operate with the competent authority on the exchange of audit working papers and investigation reports;
(f) establishing, maintaining or carrying out arrangements within paragraph 21, 22, 23(1) , 23A(1) or 24(1) of Schedule 10 to the Companies Act 2006;
(g) exercising functions of the Secretary of State under Part 42 of that Act ;
(h) carrying out investigations into public interest cases arising in connection with the performance of accountancy functions by members of professional accountancy bodies;
(i) holding disciplinary hearings relating to members of such bodies following the conclusion of such investigations;
(j) deciding whether (and, if so, what) disciplinary action should be taken against members of such bodies to whom such hearings related;
(k) supervising the exercise by such bodies of regulatory functions in relation to their members;
(ka) exercising functions of the Independent Supervisor appointed under Chapter 3 of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006;
(kb) establishing, maintaining or carrying out arrangements within paragraph 1 or 2 of Schedule 12 to the Companies Act 2006;
(l) issuing standards to be applied in actuarial work;
(m) issuing standards in respect of matters to be contained in reports or other communications required to be produced or made by actuaries or in accordance with standards within paragraph (l);
(n) investigating departures from standards within paragraph (l) or (m);
(o) taking steps to secure compliance with standards within paragraph (l) or (m);
(oa) exercising functions under regulations made under section 113(3A) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 or section 109(3A) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (preparing guidance for pensions illustrations);
(p) carrying out investigations into public interest cases arising in connection with the performance of actuarial functions by members of professional actuarial bodies;
(q) holding disciplinary hearings relating to members of professional actuarial bodies following the conclusion of investigations within paragraph (p);
(r) deciding whether (and, if so, what) disciplinary action should be taken against members of professional actuarial bodies to whom hearings within paragraph (q) related;
(s) supervising the exercise by professional actuarial bodies of regulatory functions in relation to their members;
(t) overseeing or directing any of the matters mentioned above.
(3) A grant may be made to a body within subsection (1) in respect of any of its activities.
(4) For the purposes of this section—
(a) a body is to be regarded as carrying on any subsidiary activities of the body; and
(b) a body’s “subsidiary activities” are activities carried on by any of its subsidiaries or by any body established under its constitution or under the constitution of such a subsidiary.
(5) In this section—
“accountancy functions” means functions performed as an accountant, whether in the capacity of auditor or otherwise;
“audit regulatory regime” in relation to a country or territory, means the system of public oversight, quality assurance, investigations and sanctions for auditors in that country or territory;
“company” means a company as defined in section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006;
“the competent authority” means the Financial Reporting Council Limited;
“listed securities” and “listing rules” have the meaning given by section 103(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) (interpretation of Part 6);
“issuer”, in relation to listed securities, has the meaning given by section 102A(6)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (meaning of “securities” etc ,);
“professional accountancy body” means—
a supervisory body which is recognised for the purposes of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 , or
a qualifying body, as defined by section 1220 of that Act, which enforces rules as to the performance of accountancy functions by its members,
and references to the members of professional accountancy bodies include persons who, although not members of such bodies, are subject to their rules in performing accountancy functions;
“ professional actuarial body” means—
the Institute of Actuaries, or
the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland,
and the “members” of a professional actuarial body include persons who, although not members of the body, are subject to its rules in performing actuarial functions;
“public interest cases” means matters which raise or appear to raise important issues affecting the public interest;
“regulatory functions”, in relation to professional accountancy bodies, means any of the following functions—
investigatory or disciplinary functions exercised by such bodies in relation to the performance by their members of accountancy functions,
the setting by such bodies of standards in relation to the performance by their members of accountancy functions, and
the determining by such bodies of requirements in relation to the education and training of their members;
“regulatory functions”, in relation to professional accountancy bodies, means any of the following functions—
investigatory or disciplinary functions exercised by such bodies in relation to the performance by their members of actuarial functions,
the setting by such bodies of standards in relation to the performance by their members of actuarial functions, and
the determining by such bodies of requirements in relation to the education and training of their members;
“subsidiary” has the meaning given by section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.
“ third country ” means a country or territory other than the United Kingdom;
“third country competent authority ” means a body established in a third country exercising functions related to the regulation or oversight of auditors.
...
(6) In their application to Scotland, subsection (2)(a) to (t) are to be read as referring only to matters provision relating to which would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
(6A) References in this section to Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 or to paragraph 21, 22, 23(1) or 24(1) of Schedule 10 to that Act include that Part or paragraph as it has effect by virtue of Schedule 5 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (which applies Part 42 with modifications in relation to audits of local authorities etc).
(6B) The reference in the definition of “professional accountancy body” in subsection (5) to section 1220 of the Companies Act 2006 includes a reference to section 1219 of that Act as it has effect by virtue of Schedule 5 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
(7) Omit section 256(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) (grants to bodies concerned with issuing accounting standards etc.), which is superseded by this section.
17 Levy to pay expenses of bodies concerned with accounting standards etc.
(1) For the purpose of meeting any part of the expenses of a grant-aided body, the Secretary of State may by regulations provide for a levy to be payable to that body (“the specified recipient”) by bodies or persons which are specified, or are of a description specified, in the regulations.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
(a) “grant-aided body” means a body to whom the Secretary of State has paid, or is proposing to pay, grant under section 16; and
(b) any expenses of any body carrying on subsidiary activities of the grant-aided body (within the meaning of that section) are to be regarded as expenses of the grant-aided body.
(3) The power to specify (or to specify descriptions of) bodies or persons must be exercised in such a way that the levy is only payable by—
(a) bodies corporate to which , or persons within subsection (3A) to whom, the Secretary of State considers that any of the activities of the specified recipient, or any of its subsidiary activities, are relevant to a significant extent, or
(b) bodies or persons who the Secretary of State considers have a major interest in any of those activities being carried on.
(3A) The following persons are within this subsection—
(a) the administrators of a public service pension scheme (within the meaning of section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993);
(b) the trustees or managers of an occupational or personal pension scheme (within the meaning of that section).
(4) Regulations under this section may in particular—
(a) specify the rate of the levy and the period in respect of which it is payable at that rate;
(b) make provision as to the times when, and the manner in which, payments are to be made in respect of the levy.
(c) make different provision for different cases.
(5) In determining the rate of the levy payable in respect of a particular period, the Secretary of State—
(a) must take into account the amount of any grant which is to be or has been made to the specified recipient in respect of that period under section 16;
(b) may take into account estimated as well as actual expenses of that body in respect of that period.
(6) Any amount of levy payable by any body or person is a debt due from the body or person to the specified recipient, and is recoverable accordingly.
(7) The specified recipient must—
(a) keep proper accounts in respect of amounts of levy received, and
(b) prepare in relation to each levy period a statement of account relating to such amounts in such form and manner as is specified in the regulations.
(8) Those accounts must be audited, and the statement certified, by persons appointed by the Secretary of State.
(9) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.
(10) Regulations to which this subsection applies may not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
(11) Subsection (10) applies to—
(a) the first regulations under this section, and
(b) any other regulations under this section that would result in any change in the bodies or persons by whom the levy is payable.
(12) Otherwise, any statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(13) If a draft of any regulations to which subsection (10) applies would, apart from this subsection, be treated for the purposes of the standing orders of either House of Parliament as a hybrid instrument, it is to proceed in that House as if it were not such an instrument.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order or regulations provide for the exemption from liability in subsections (3) and (4) to apply to specified bodies or persons (referred to in this section as “exempt persons”).
(2) The order or regulations may provide for the exemption to apply subject to specified conditions or for a specified period.
(3) Neither the exempt person, nor any person who is (or is acting as) a member, officer or member of staff of the exempt person, is to be liable in damages for anything done, or omitted to be done, for the purposes of or in connection with—
(a) the carrying on of those section 16(2) activities of the exempt person that are specified in relation to that person, or
(b) the purported carrying on of any such activities.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply—
(a) if the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith, or
(b) so as to prevent an award of damages in respect of the act or omission on the grounds that it was unlawful as a result of section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (acts of public authorities incompatible with Convention rights).
(5) In this section—
“section 16(2) activities” means activities concerned with any of the matters within section 16(2);
“specified” means specified in an order or regulations under this section.
(6) Orders and regulations under this section—
(a) are to be made by statutory instrument;
(b) may make different provision for different cases;
(c) may make transitional provision and savings.
(7) A statutory instrument containing an order or regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, subject to subsection (8).
(8) An order or regulations under this section may be included in a statutory instrument which may not be made unless a draft of the instrument is laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
For section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) substitute—
Power to require documents and information
447 (1) The Secretary of State may act under subsections (2) and (3) in relation to a company.
(2) The Secretary of State may give directions to the company requiring it—
(a) to produce such documents (or documents of such description) as may be specified in the directions;
(b) to provide such information (or information of such description) as may be so specified.
(3) The Secretary of State may authorise a person (an investigator) to require the company or any other person—
(a) to produce such documents (or documents of such description) as the investigator may specify;
(b) to provide such information (or information of such description) as the investigator may specify.
(4) A person on whom a requirement under subsection (3) is imposed may require the investigator to produce evidence of his authority.
(5) A requirement under subsection (2) or (3) must be complied with at such time and place as may be specified in the directions or by the investigator (as the case may be).
(6) The production of a document in pursuance of this section does not affect any lien which a person has on the document.
(7) The Secretary of State or the investigator (as the case may be) may take copies of or extracts from a document produced in pursuance of this section.
(8) A “document” includes information recorded in any form.
(9) In relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, the power to require production of it includes power to require the production of a copy of it in legible form or in a form from which it can readily be produced in visible and legible form.
After section 448 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) insert—
Protection in relation to certain disclosures: information provided to Secretary of State
448A (1) A person who makes a relevant disclosure is not liable by reason only of that disclosure in any proceedings relating to a breach of an obligation of confidence.
(2) A relevant disclosure is a disclosure which satisfies each of the following conditions—
(a) it is made to the Secretary of State otherwise than in compliance with a requirement under this Part;
(b) it is of a kind that the person making the disclosure could be required to make in pursuance of this Part;
(c) the person who makes the disclosure does so in good faith and in the reasonable belief that the disclosure is capable of assisting the Secretary of State for the purposes of the exercise of his functions under this Part;
(d) the information disclosed is not more than is reasonably necessary for the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State for the purposes of the exercise of those functions;
(e) the disclosure is not one falling within subsection (3) or (4).
(3) A disclosure falls within this subsection if the disclosure is prohibited by virtue of any enactment.
(4) A disclosure falls within this subsection if—
(a) it is made by a person carrying on the business of banking or by a lawyer, and
(b) it involves the disclosure of information in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence in that capacity.
(5) An enactment includes an enactment—
(a) comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
(b) comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978);
(c) whenever passed or made.
After section 453 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) insert—
Power to enter and remain on premises
453A (1) An inspector or investigator may act under subsection (2) in relation to a company if—
(a) he is authorised to do so by the Secretary of State, and
(b) he thinks that to do so will materially assist him in the exercise of his functions under this Part in relation to the company.
(2) An inspector or investigator may at all reasonable times—
(a) require entry to relevant premises, and
(b) remain there for such period as he thinks necessary for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b).
(3) Relevant premises are premises which the inspector or investigator believes are used (wholly or partly) for the purposes of the company’s business.
(4) In exercising his powers under subsection (2), an inspector or investigator may be accompanied by such other persons as he thinks appropriate.
(5) A person who intentionally obstructs a person lawfully acting under subsection (2) or (4)—
(a) is guilty of an offence, and
(b) is liable on conviction to a fine.
(6) Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions), 733 (liability of individuals for corporate default) and 734 (criminal proceedings against unincorporated bodies) apply to the offence under subsection (5).
(7) An inspector is a person appointed under section 431, 432 or 442.
(8) An investigator is a person authorised for the purposes of section 447.
Power to enter and remain on premises: procedural
453B (1) This section applies for the purposes of section 453A.
(2) The requirements of subsection (3) must be complied with at the time an inspector or investigator seeks to enter relevant premises under section 453A(2)(a).
(3) The requirements are—
(a) the inspector or investigator must produce evidence of his identity and evidence of his appointment or authorisation (as the case may be);
(b) any person accompanying the inspector or investigator must produce evidence of his identity.
(4) The inspector or investigator must, as soon as practicable after obtaining entry, give to an appropriate recipient a written statement containing such information as to—
(a) the powers of the investigator or inspector (as the case may be) under section 453A;
(b) the rights and obligations of the company, occupier and the persons present on the premises,
as may be prescribed by regulations.
(5) If during the time the inspector or investigator is on the premises there is no person present who appears to him to be an appropriate recipient for the purposes of subsection (8), the inspector or investigator must as soon as reasonably practicable send to the company—
(a) a notice of the fact and time that the visit took place, and
(b) the statement mentioned in subsection (4).
(6) As soon as reasonably practicable after exercising his powers under section 453A(2), the inspector or investigator must prepare a written record of the visit and—
(a) if requested to do so by the company he must give it a copy of the record;
(b) in a case where the company is not the sole occupier of the premises, if requested to do so by an occupier he must give the occupier a copy of the record.
(7) The written record must contain such information as may be prescribed by regulations.
(8) If the inspector or investigator thinks that the company is the sole occupier of the premises an appropriate recipient is a person who is present on the premises and who appears to the inspector or investigator to be—
(a) an officer of the company, or
(b) a person otherwise engaged in the business of the company if the inspector or investigator thinks that no officer of the company is present on the premises.
(9) If the inspector or investigator thinks that the company is not the occupier or sole occupier of the premises an appropriate recipient is—
(a) a person who is an appropriate recipient for the purposes of subsection (8), and (if different)
(b) a person who is present on the premises and who appears to the inspector or investigator to be an occupier of the premises or otherwise in charge of them.
(10) A statutory instrument containing regulations made under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
After section 453B of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) (inserted by section 23) insert—
Failure to comply with certain requirements
453C (1) This section applies if a person fails to comply with a requirement imposed by an inspector, the Secretary of State or an investigator in pursuance of either of the following provisions—
(a) section 447;
(b) section 453A.
(2) The inspector, Secretary of State or investigator (as the case may be) may certify the fact in writing to the court.
(3) If, after hearing—
(a) any witnesses who may be produced against or on behalf of the alleged offender;
(b) any statement which may be offered in defence,
the court is satisfied that the offender failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirement, it may deal with him as if he had been guilty of contempt of the court.
(1) Schedule 2 (minor and consequential amendments relating to Part 1) has effect.
(2) That Schedule has effect subject to the modifications set out in subsection (3)—
(a) in relation to England and Wales, in the case of an offence committed before 2 May 2022, and
(b) in relation to Scotland.
(3) The modifications are—
(a) the amendment in paragraph 10(2) has effect as if for “12 months” there were substituted “ 6 months ”;
(b) the amendment in paragraph 10(3) has effect as if for “12 months”, in both places where it occurs, there were substituted “ 3 months ”;
(c) the amendment in paragraph 10(4) has effect as if for “12 months” there were substituted “ 6 months ”;
(d) the amendment in paragraph 26(2) has effect as if for “the general limit in a magistrates’ court” there were substituted “ 6 months ”; and
(e) the amendment in paragraph 26(3) has effect as if for “the general limit in a magistrates’ court” there were substituted “ 6 months ”.
(1) There is to be a new type of company to be known as the community interest company.
(2) In accordance with this Part—
(a) a company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital may be formed as or become a community interest company, and
(b) a company limited by guarantee and having a share capital may become a community interest company.
(3) A community interest company established for charitable purposes is to be treated as not being so established and accordingly—
(a) is not an English charity or a Northern Ireland charity, and
(b) must not be entered in the Scottish Charity Register.
(1) There is to be an officer known as the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (referred to in this Part as “the Regulator”).
(2) The Secretary of State must appoint a person to be the Regulator.
(3) The Regulator has such functions relating to community interest companies as are conferred or imposed by or by virtue of this Act or any other enactment.
(4) The Regulator must adopt an approach to the discharge of those functions which is based on good regulatory practice, that is an approach adopted having regard to—
(a) the likely impact on those who may be affected by the discharge of those functions,
(b) the outcome of consultations with, and with organisations representing, community interest companies and others with relevant experience, and
(c) the desirability of using the Regulator’s resources in the most efficient and economic way.
(5) The Regulator may issue guidance, or otherwise provide assistance, about any matter relating to community interest companies.
(6) The Secretary of State may require the Regulator to issue guidance or otherwise provide assistance about any matter relating to community interest companies which is specified by the Secretary of State.
(7) Any guidance issued under this section must be such that it is readily accessible to, and capable of being easily understood by, those at whom it is aimed; and any other assistance provided under this section must be provided in the manner which the Regulator considers is most likely to be helpful to those to whom it is provided.
(8) Schedule 3 (further provisions about the Regulator) has effect.
(1) There is to be an officer known as the Appeal Officer for Community Interest Companies (referred to in this Part as “the Appeal Officer”).
(2) The Secretary of State must appoint a person to be the Appeal Officer.
(3) The Appeal Officer has the function of determining appeals against decisions and orders of the Regulator which under or by virtue of this Act or any other enactment lie to the Appeal Officer.
(4) An appeal to the Appeal Officer against a decision or order of the Regulator may be brought on the ground that the Regulator made a material error of law or fact.
(5) On such an appeal the Appeal Officer must—
(a) dismiss the appeal,
(b) allow the appeal, or
(c) remit the case to the Regulator.
(6) Where a case is remitted the Regulator must reconsider it in accordance with any rulings of law and findings of fact made by the Appeal Officer.
(7) Schedule 4 (further provisions about the Appeal Officer) has effect.
(1) There is to be an officer known as the Official Property Holder for Community Interest Companies (referred to in this Part as “the Official Property Holder”).
(2) The Regulator must appoint a member of the Regulator’s staff to be the Official Property Holder.
(3) The Official Property Holder has such functions relating to property of community interest companies as are conferred or imposed by or by virtue of this Act or any other enactment.
(4) Schedule 5 (further provisions about the Official Property Holder) has effect.
(1) Community interest companies must not distribute assets to their members unless regulations make provision authorising them to do so.
(2) If regulations authorise community interest companies to distribute assets to their members, the regulations may impose limits on the extent to which they may do so.
(3) Regulations may impose limits on the payment of interest on debentures issued by, or debts of, community interest companies.
(4) Regulations under this section may make provision for limits to be set by the Regulator.
(5) The Regulator—
(a) may set a limit by reference to a rate determined by any other person (as it has effect from time to time), and
(b) may set different limits for different descriptions of community interest companies.
(6) The Regulator must (in accordance with section 27)—
(a) undertake appropriate consultation before setting a limit, and
(b) in setting a limit, have regard to its likely impact on community interest companies.
(7) Regulations under this section may include power for the Secretary of State to require the Regulator to review a limit or limits.
(8) Where the Regulator sets a limit he must publish notice of it in the Gazette.
(1) Regulations may make provision for and in connection with the distribution, on the winding up of a community interest company, of any assets of the company which remain after satisfaction of the company’s liabilities.
(2) The regulations may, in particular, amend or modify the operation of any enactment or instrument.
(1) The articles of a community interest company must state that the company is to be a community interest company.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) The articles of a community interest company of any description—
(a) must at all times include such provisions as regulations require to be included in the articles of every community interest company or a community interest company of that description, and
(b) must not include such provisions as regulations require not to be so included.
(4) The provisions required by regulations under subsection (3)(a) to be included in the articles of a community interest company may (in particular) include—
(a) provisions about the transfer and distribution of the company’s assets (including their distribution on a winding up),
(b) provisions about the payment of interest on debentures issued by the company or debts of the company,
(c) provisions about membership of the company,
(d) provisions about the voting rights of members of the company,
(e) provisions about the appointment and removal of directors of the company, and
(f) provisions about voting at meetings of directors of the company.
(5) The articles of a community interest company are of no effect to the extent that they—
(a) are inconsistent with provisions required to be included in the articles of the company by regulations under subsection (3)(a), or
(b) include provisions required not to be included by regulations under subsection (3)(b).
(6) Regulations may make provision for and in connection with restricting the ability of a community interest company to amend its articles so as to add, remove or alter a statement of the company’s objects.
(1) The name of a community interest company which is not a public company must end with—
(a) “community interest company”, or
(b) “c.i.c.”.
(2) In the case of a Welsh company, its name may instead end with—
(a) “cwmni buddiant cymunedol”, or
(b) “c.b.c.”,
...
(3) The name of a community interest company which is a public company must end with—
(a) “community interest public limited company”, or
(b) “community interest p.l.c.”.
(4) In the case of a Welsh company, its name may instead end with—
(a) “cwmni buddiant cymunedol cyhoeddus cyfyngedig”, or
(b) “cwmni buddiant cymunedol c.c.c.”,
...
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .