Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 Explanatory Notes

Rights exercisable only in certain circumstances etc.

523.Some rights in a company are only exercisable in certain circumstances. Paragraph 22 provides that for the purpose of determining whether a person has significant control, such rights should only be taken into account when the circumstances have arisen and for as long as they continue to exist; or when the circumstances are within the person’s control.

524.This provision intends to ensure that only ‘live’ interests in the company are entered in the PSC register. It is based on similar provision made in Schedules 6 (‘Meaning of “subsidiary” etc: supplementary provisions’) and 7 (‘Parent and subsidiary undertakings: supplementary provisions’) to CA 2006.

525.The exception to this is in the case of an administration. Paragraph 22(2) specifies that the rights of administrators and creditors during relevant insolvency proceedings should not be taken into account for the purpose of the PSC register. The control exercised in such circumstances is not considered relevant for entry in the PSC register due to the exceptional nature of the circumstances and its limited duration. “Relevant insolvency proceedings” are defined in sub-paragraph (3).

526.Paragraph 22(4) clarifies that rights temporarily incapable of exercise – for example, because they have been suspended – should continue to be taken into account.

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