Breach of restrictions
545.Paragraph 5 specifies the actions that constitute offences in relation to an interest subject to restrictions. These include where a person who knows their interest to be subject to restrictions fails to tell any person with the right to vote in respect of that interest of that fact (unless they know the person to be aware of that fact) (sub-paragraph (3)) and where a person enters into an agreement in respect of the interest that is void, knowing that to be the case (sub-paragraph (4)).
546.It is also an offence, committed by the company and every officer in default, for a company to issue shares in contravention of a restrictions notice (paragraph 6).
547.Offences under paragraph 5 and 6 are triable either way and punishable by a fine (paragraph 7). These offences may not however be prosecuted without the consent of the Secretary of State (see section 1126 CA 2006, ‘Consents required for certain prosecutions’, as amended by paragraph 9 of Schedule 3). This is based on the precedent for equivalent offences in Part 22 of CA 2006 (see section 798, ‘Penalty for attempted evasion of restrictions’).