Companies Act 1985

Individual and group acquisitions E+W+S

198 Obligation of disclosure: the cases in which it may arise and “the relevant time”. E+W+S

(1) Where a person either—

(a) to his knowledge acquires an interest in shares comprised in a public company’s relevant share capital, or ceases to be interested in shares so comprised (whether or not retaining an interest in other shares so comprised), or

(b) becomes aware that he has acquired an interest in shares so comprised or that he has ceased to be interested in shares so comprised in which he was previously interested,

then in certain circumstances he comes under an obligation (“the obligation of disclosure”) to make notification to the company [F1 with respect to his interests (if any)], in its shares.

(2) In relation to a public company, “relevant share capital” means the company’s issued share capital of a class carrying rights to vote in all circumstances at general meetings of the company; and it is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that—

(a) where a company’s share capital is divided into different classes of shares, references in this Part to a percentage of the nominal value of its relevant share capital are to a percentage of the nominal value of the issued shares comprised in each of the classes taken separately, and

(b) the temporary suspension of voting rights in respect of shares comprised in issued share capital of a company of any such class does not affect the application of this Part in relation to interests in those or any other shares comprised in that class.

(3) Where, otherwise than in circumstances within subsection (1), a person—

(a) is aware at the time when it occurs of any change of circumstances affecting facts relevant to the application of the next following section to an existing interest of his in shares comprised in a company’s share capital of any description, or

(b) otherwise becomes aware of any such facts (whether or not arising from any such change of circumstances),

then in certain circumstances he comes under the obligation of disclosure.

(4) The existence of the obligation in a particular case depends (in part) on circumstances obtaining before and after whatever is in that case the relevant time; and that is—

(a) in a case within subsection (1)(a) or (3)(a), the time of the event or change of circumstances there mentioned, and

(b) in a case within subsection (1)(b) or (3)(b), the time at which the person became aware of the facts in question.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 198(1) substituted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg.3

199 Interests to be disclosed. E+W+S

(1) For purposes of the obligation of disclosure, the interests to be taken into account are those in relevant share capital of the company concerned.

[F2 (2) Where a person is interested in shares comprised in relevant share capital, then—

(a) if in some or all of those shares he has interests which are material interests, he has a notifiable interest at any time when the aggregate nominal value of the shares in which those material interests subsist is equal to or more than 3 per cent. of the nominal value of that share capital; and

(b) he has a notifiable interest at any time when, not having such an interest by virtue of paragraph (a), the aggregate nominal value of the shares in which he has interests (whether or not including material interests) is equal to or more than 10 per cent. of the nominal value of the relevant share capital.

(2A) For the purposes of this Part, a material interest is any interest other than—

(a) an interest which a person authorised to manage investments belonging to another has by virtue of having the management of such investments under an agreement in or evidenced in writing;

(b) an interest which a person has by virtue of being the operator of—

(i) an authorised unit trust scheme;

(ii) a recognised scheme; or

(iii) a UCITS (as defined in subsection (8));

[F3 (bb) an interest belonging to an investment company with variable capital;]

(c) an interest in shares in a listed company which, if that company were not listed, would fall to be disregarded by virtue of section 209(10); or

(d) an interest of another which a person is taken to have by virtue of the application of section 203 or 205, where the interest of that other person falls within paragraph (a), (b) or (c).]

(3) All facts relevant to determining whether a person has a notifiable interest at any time (or the percentage level of his interest) are taken to be what he knows the facts to be at that time.

(4) The obligation of disclosure arises under section 198(1) or (3) where the person has a notifiable interest immediately after the relevant time, but did not have such an interest immediately before that time.

(5) The obligation also arises under section 198(1) [F4 or (3)] where—

(a) the person had a notifiable interest immediately before the relevant time, but does not have such an interest immediately after it, or

(b) he had a notifiable interest immediately before that time, and has such an interest immediately after it, but the percentage levels of his interest immediately before and immediately after that time are not the same.

[F5 (6) For the purposes of subsection (2A), a person is authorised to manage investments belonging to another if—

(a) he is an authorised person under Chapter III of Part I of the Financial Services Act 1986 M1 and may manage that other’s investments without contravening any prohibition mentioned in subsection (7); or

(b) it is an authorised credit institution which may manage that other’s investments without being in breach of its authorisation.

(7) The prohibitions referred to in subsection (6)(a) are—

(a) any prohibition contained in rules—

(i) which make provision of a description mentioned in section 48(2)(a) and (b) of the Financial Services Act 1986; and

(ii) which are made by the Secretary of State, the Treasury, a designated agency, a recognised professional body or a recognised self-regulating organisation; and

(b) any prohibition imposed under section 65 of that Act.

(8) In this Part “UCITS" means a collective investment scheme which—

(a) is constituted in a member State other than the United Kingdom, and

(b) complies with the conditions necessary for it to enjoy the rights conferred by Council Directive 85/611/EEC M2 co-ordinating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities;

and subsection (8) of section 86 of the Financial Services Act 1986 (meaning of “constituted in a member State") applies for the purposes of paragraph (a) of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that section.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 199(2)(2A) substituted (18.9.1993) for s. 199(2) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 4(1)

F3 S. 199(2A)(bb) inserted (6.1.1997) by S.I 1996/2827, reg. 75, Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 5

F4 Words in s. 199(5) inserted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 4(2)

F5 S. 199(6)-(8) inserted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 4(3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1986 c. 60.

M2 OJ No L375, 31.12.85, p.3.

[F6 200 “Percentage level” in relation to notifiable interests. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the qualifications mentioned below, “percentage level”, in section 199(5)(b), means the percentage figure found by expressing the aggregate nominal value of all the shares comprised in the share capital concerned in which the person has material interests immediately before or (as the case may be) immediately after the relevant time as a percentage of the nominal value of that share capital and rounding that figure down, if it is not a whole number, to the next whole number.

(2) In relation to a notifiable interest which a person has when the aggregate nominal value of the shares in which he is interested is equal to or more than 10 per cent. of the nominal value of that relevant share capital, subsection (1) shall have effect as if for the words “has material interests” there were substituted “is interested”.

(3) Where the nominal value of the share capital is greater immediately after the relevant time than it was immediately before, the percentage level of the person’s interest immediately before (as well as immediately after) that time is determined by reference to the larger amount.]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 200 substituted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg.5

F7 201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 201 repealed by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 212, 213(2), Sch. 24

202 Particulars to be contained in notification. E+W+S

(1) Where notification is required by section 198 with respect to a person’s interest (if any) in shares comprised in relevant share capital of a public company, the obligation to make the notification must . . . F8 be performed within the period of [F9 2 days] next following the day on which that obligation arises; and the notification must be in writing to the company.

(2) The notification must specify the share capital to which it relates, and must also—

[F10 (a) subject to subsections (2A) and (2B), state the number of shares comprised in that share capital in which the person making the notification knows he had material interests immediately after the time when the obligation arose, or]

(b) in a case where the person no longer has a notifiable interest in shares comprised in that share capital, state that he no longer has that interest.

[F11 (2A) Where, immediately after the relevant time, the aggregate nominal value of the shares in which the person making the notification is interested is equal to or more than 10 per cent. of the nominal value of that relevant share capital, subsection (2)(a) shall have effect as if for the words “had material interests” there were substituted “was interested”.

(2B) Nothing in subsection (2) or (2A) requires a notification to state, in relation to any shares, whether the interest of the person making the notification is (or is not) a material interest.]

[F12 (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).]

(4) A person who has an interest in shares comprised in a company’s relevant share capital, that interest being notifiable, is under obligation to notify the company in writing—

(a) of any particulars in relation to those shares which are specified in subsection (3), and

(b) of any change in those particulars,

of which in either case he becomes aware at any time after any interest notification date and before the first occasion following that date on which he comes under any further obligation of disclosure with respect to his interest in shares comprised in that share capital.

An obligation arising under this subsection must be performed within the period of [F13 2 days] next following the day on which it arises.

(5) The reference in subsection (4) to an interest notification date, in relation to a person’s interest in shares comprised in a public company’s relevant share capital, is to either of the following—

(a) the date of any notification made by him with respect to his interest under this Part, and

(b) where he has failed to make a notification, the date on which the period allowed for making it came to an end.

(6) A person who at any time has an interest in shares which is notifiable is to be regarded under subsection (4) as continuing to have a notifiable interest in them unless and until he comes under obligation to make a notification stating that he no longer has such an interest in those shares.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words repealed by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 212, 213(2), Sch. 24

F9 Words substituted (in force on 31.5.1990 subject to a saving in S.I. 1990/713, art. 5) by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 134(3), 213(2)

F10 S. 202(2)(a) substituted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 6(1)

F11 S. 202(2A)(2B) inserted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 6(2)

F12 S. 202(3) substituted (1. 11. 1991) by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 134(4), 213(2); S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(2)(a)

F13 Words substituted (in force on 31.5.1990 subject to a saving in S.I. 1990/713, art. 5) by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 134(3), 213(2)

203 Notification of family and corporate interests. E+W+S

(1) For purposes of sections 198 to 202, a person is taken to be interested in any shares in which his spouse or any infant child or step-child of his is interested; and “infant” means, in relation to Scotland, [F14 person under the age of 18 years].

(2) For those purposes, a person is taken to be interested in shares if a body corporate is interested in them and—

(a) that body or its directors are accustomed to act in accordance with his directions or instructions, or

(b) he is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of one-third or more of the voting power at general meetings of that body corporate.

(3) Where a person is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of one-third or more of the voting power at general meetings of a body corporate and that body corporate is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of any of the voting power at general meetings of another body corporate (“the effective voting power”) then, for purposes of subsection (2)(b), the effective voting power is taken as exercisable by that person.

(4) For purposes of subsections (2) and (3), a person is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of voting power if—

(a) he has a right (whether subject to conditions or not) the exercise of which would make him so entitled, or

(b) he is under an obligation (whether or not so subject) the fulfilment of which would make him so entitled.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in s. 203(1) substituted (S.) (25.9.1991) by Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 50, SIF 49:8), ss. 10(1), 11(2), Sch. 1 para. 39 (with s. 1(3))

204 Agreement to acquire interests in a particular company. E+W+S

(1) In certain circumstances the obligation of disclosure may arise from an agreement between two or more persons which includes provision for the acquisition by any one or more of them of interests in shares of a particular public company (“the target company”), being shares comprised in the relevant share capital of that company.

(2) This section applies to such an agreement if—

(a) the agreement also includes provisions imposing obligations or restrictions on any one or more of the parties to it with respect to their use, retention or disposal of their interests in that company’s shares acquired in pursuance of the agreement (whether or not together with any other interests of theirs in the company’s shares to which the agreement relates), and

(b) any interest in the company’s shares is in fact acquired by any of the parties in pursuance of the agreement;

and in relation to such an agreement references below in this section, and in sections 205 and 206, to the target company are to the company which is the target company for that agreement in accordance with this and the previous subsection.

(3) The reference in subsection (2)(a) to the use of interests in shares in the target company is to the exercise of any rights or of any control or influence arising from those interests (including the right to enter into any agreement for the exercise, or for control of the exercise, of any of those rights by another person).

(4) Once any interest in shares in the target company has been acquired in pursuance of such an agreement as is mentioned above, this section continues to apply to that agreement irrespective of—

(a) whether or not any further acquisitions of interest in the company’s shares take place in pursuance of the agreement, and

(b) any change in the persons who are for the time being parties to it, and

(c) any variation of the agreement,

so long as the agreement continues to include provisions of any description mentioned in subsection (2)(a).

References in this subsection to the agreement include any agreement having effect (whether directly or indirectly) in substitution for the original agreement.

(5) In this section, and also in references elsewhere in this Part to an agreement to which this section applies, “agreement” includes any agreement or arrangement; and references in this section to provisions of an agreement—

(a) accordingly include undertakings, expectations or understandings operative under any arrangement, and

(b) (without prejudice to the above) also include any provisions, whether express or implied and whether absolute or not.

(6) However, this section does not apply to an agreement which is not legally binding unless it involves mutuality in the undertakings, expectations or understandings of the parties to it; nor does the section apply to an agreement to underwrite or sub-underwrite any offer of shares in a company, provided the agreement is confined to that purpose and any matters incidental to it.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 204(5)(6) applied (20.5.2006) by The Takeovers Directive (Interim Implementation) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1183), reg. 30, Sch. 2 para. 8(8)

205 Obligation of disclosure arising under s. 204. E+W+S

(1) In the case of an agreement to which section 204 applies, each party to the agreement is taken (for purposes of the obligation of disclosure) to be interested in all shares in the target company in which any other party to it is interested apart from the agreement (whether or not the interest of the other party in question was acquired, or includes any interest which was acquired, in pursuance of the agreement).

(2) For those purposes, and also for those of the next section, an interest of a party to such an agreement in shares in the target company is an interest apart from the agreement if he is interested in those shares otherwise than by virtue of the application of section 204 and this section in relation to the agreement.

(3) Accordingly, any such interest of the person (apart from the agreement) includes for those purposes any interest treated as his under section 203 or by the application of section 204 and this section in relation to any other agreement with respect to shares in the target company to which he is a party.

(4) A notification with respect to his interest in shares in the target company made to that company under this Part by a person who is for the time being a party to an agreement to which section 204 applies shall—

(a) state that the person making the notification is a party to such an agreement,

(b) include the names and (so far as known to him) the addresses of the other parties to the agreement, identifying them as such, and

(c) state whether or not any of the shares to which the notification relates are shares in which he is interested by virtue of section 204 and this section and, if so, the number of those shares.

(5) Where a person makes a notification to a company under this Part in consequence of ceasing to be interested in any shares of that company by virtue of the fact that he or any other person has ceased to be a party to an agreement to which section 204 applies, the notification shall include a statement that he or that other person has ceased to be a party to the agreement (as the case may require) and also (in the latter case) the name and (if known to him) the address of that other.

206 Obligation of persons acting together to keep each other informed. E+W+S

(1) A person who is a party to an agreement to which section 204 applies is subject to the requirements of this section at any time when—

(a) the target company is a public company, and he knows it to be so, and

(b) the shares in that company to which the agreement relates consist of or include shares comprised in relevant share capital of the company, and he knows that to be the case; and

(c) he knows the facts which make the agreement one to which section 204 applies.

(2) Such a person is under obligation to notify every other party to the agreement, in writing, of the relevant particulars of his interest (if any) apart from the agreement in shares comprised in relevant share capital of the target company—

(a) on his first becoming subject to the requirements of this section, and

(b) on each occurrence after that time while he is still subject to those requirements of any event or circumstances within section 198(1) (as it applies to his case otherwise than by reference to interests treated as his under section 205 as applying to that agreement).

(3) The relevant particulars to be notified under subsection (2) are—

(a) the number of shares (if any) comprised in the target company’s relevant share capital in which the person giving the notice would be required to state his interest [F15 if he were under the wide obligation of disclosure with respect to that interest] (apart from the agreement) immediately after the time when the obligation to give notice under subsection (2) arose, and

(b) the relevant particulars with respect to the registered ownership of those shares, so far as known to him at the date of the notice [F16 and

(c) except in the circumstance mentioned in subsection (3A), the number of shares (if any) out of the number given under paragraph (a) in which he knows that, immediately after the time when the obligation to give the notice arose, he had interests (apart from the agreement) which were not material interests.]

[F17 (3A) The circumstance referred to in subsection (3)(c) is that the aggregate nominal value of the shares comprised in relevant share capital in which the person is interested (apart from the agreement) is equal to or more than 10 per cent. of the nominal value of the relevant share capital.

(3B) For the purposes of subsection (3)(a) “the wide obligation of disclosure” means the obligation to disclose the number of shares in which the person concerned has any interest (material or otherwise).]

(4) A person who is for the time being subject to the requirements of this section is also under obligation to notify every other party to the agreement, in writing—

(a) of any relevant particulars with respect to the registered ownership of any shares comprised in relevant share capital of the target company in which he is interested apart from the agreement, and

(b) of any change in those particulars,

of which in either case he becomes aware at any time after any interest notification date and before the first occasion following that date on which he becomes subject to any further obligation to give notice under subsection (2) with respect to his interest in shares comprised in that share capital.

(5) The reference in subsection (4) to an interest notification date, in relation to a person’s interest in shares comprised in the target company’s relevant share capital, is to either of the following—

(a) the date of any notice given by him with respect to his interest under subsection (2), and

(b) where he has failed to give that notice, the date on which the period allowed by this section for giving the notice came to an end.

(6) A person who is a party to an agreement to which section 204 applies is under an obligation to notify each other party to the agreement, in writing, of his current address—

(a) on his first becoming subject to the requirements of this section, and

(b) on any change in his address occurring after that time and while he is still subject to those requirements.

(7) A reference to the relevant particulars with respect to the registered ownership of shares is to such particulars in relation to those shares as are mentioned in section 202(3)(a) or (b).

(8) A person’s obligation to give any notice required by this section to any other person must be performed within the period of [F18 2 days] next following the day on which that obligation arose.

Textual Amendments

F15 Words in s. 206(3)(a) substituted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 7(1)

F16 S. 206(3)(c) and the preceding word “and” inserted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 7(1)

F17 S. 206(3A)(3B) inserted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 7(2)

F18 Words substituted (in force on 31.5.1990 subject to a saving in S.I. 1990/713, art. 5) by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 134(3), 213(2)

207 Interests in shares by attribution. E+W+S

(1) Where section 198 or 199 refers to a person acquiring an interest in shares or ceasing to be interested in shares, that reference in certain cases includes his becoming or ceasing to be interested in those shares by virtue of another person’s interest.

(2) Such is the case where he becomes or ceases to be interested by virtue of section 203 or (as the case may be) section 205 whether—

(a) by virtue of the fact that the person who is interested in the shares becomes or ceases to be a person whose interests (if any) fall by virtue of either section to be treated as his, or

(b) in consequence of the fact that such a person has become or ceased to be interested in the shares, or

(c) in consequence of the fact that he himself becomes or ceases to be a party to an agreement to which section 204 applies to which the person interested in the shares is for the time being a party, or

(d) in consequence of the fact that an agreement to which both he and that person are parties becomes or ceases to be one to which that section applies.

(3) The person is then to be treated as knowing he has acquired an interest in the shares or (as the case may be) that he has ceased to be interested in them, if and when he knows both—

(a) the relevant facts with respect to the other person’s interest in the shares, and

(b) the relevant facts by virtue of which he himself has become or ceased to be interested in them in accordance with section 203 or 205.

(4) He has the knowledge referred to in subsection (3)(a) if he knows (whether contemporaneously or not) either of the subsistence of the other person’s interest at any material time or of the fact that the other has become or ceased to be interested in the shares at any such time; and “material time” is any time at which the other’s interests (if any) fall or fell to be treated as his under section 203 or 205.

(5) A person is to be regarded as knowing of the subsistence of another’s interest in shares or (as the case may be) that another has become or ceased to be interested in shares if he has been notified under section 206 of facts with respect to the other’s interest which indicate that he is or has become or ceased to be interested in the shares (whether on his own account or by virtue of a third party’s interest in them).

208 Interests in shares which are to be notified. E+W+S

(1) This section applies, subject to the section next following, in determining for purposes of sections 198 to 202 whether a person has a notifiable interest in shares.

(2) A reference to an interest in shares is to be read as including an interest of any kind whatsoever in the shares; and accordingly there are to be disregarded any restraints or restrictions to which the exercise of any right attached to the interest is or may be subject.

(3) Where property is held on trust and an interest in shares is comprised in the property, a beneficiary of the trust who apart from this subsection does not have an interest in the shares is to be taken as having such an interest.

(4) A person is taken to have an interest in shares if—

(a) he enters into a contract for their purchase by him (whether for cash or other consideration), or

(b) not being the registered holder, he is entitled to exercise any right conferred by the holding of the shares or is entitled to control the exercise of any such right.

(5) A person is taken to have an interest in shares if, otherwise than by virtue of having an interest under a trust—

(a) he has a right to call for delivery of the shares to himself or to his order, or

(b) he has a right to acquire an interest in shares or is under an obligation to take an interest in shares,

whether in any case the right or obligation is conditional or absolute.

(6) For purposes of subsection (4)(b), a person is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of any right conferred by the holding of shares if he—

(a) has a right (whether subject to conditions or not) the exercise of which would make him so entitled, or

(b) is under an obligation (whether so subject or not) the fulfilment of which would make him so entitled.

(7) Persons having a joint interest are taken each of them to have that interest.

(8) It is immaterial that shares in which a person has an interest are unidentifiable.

[F19 209 Interests to be disregarded. E+W+S

(1) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the following interests in shares are disregarded for the purposes of sections 198 to 202—

(a) where property is held on trust and an interest in shares is comprised in that property, an interest of a person, being a discretionary interest or an interest in reversion or remainder or an interest of a bare trustee;

(b) an interest which a person has by virtue of holding units in—

(i) an authorised unit trust scheme;

(ii) a recognised scheme; or

(iii) a UCITS;

(c) an interest of a person which is an exempt security interest within the meaning of subsection (2);

(d) an interest which a person has by virtue of his being a beneficiary under a retirement benefits scheme as defined in section 611 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 M3 ;

(e) an interest which a person has in shares as a result of the acceptance of a takeover offer made by him (either alone or jointly with one or more other persons) for shares where—

(i) the offer is subject to a threshold acceptance condition; and

(ii) the threshold acceptance condition is not fulfilled;

(f) an interest of a person which is an exempt custodian interest within the meaning of subsection (4);

(g) an interest which a person has by virtue of his being a personal representative of any estate;

(h) an interest which a person has—

(i) by virtue of his being a trustee of an authorised unit trust scheme, F20 . . .

(ii) in relation to a recognised scheme or a UCITS, by virtue of his being entrusted with the custody of the property in question (whether or not under a trust) [F21 or.

(iii) by virtue of his being a depositary, within the meaning of the Open-Ended Investment Companies (Investment Companies with Variable Capital) Regulations 1996, of an investment company with variable capital.]

(2) An interest in shares is an exempt security interest for the purposes of subsection (1)(c)—

(a) if it is held by a person who is—

(i) a person authorised under Part I of the Banking Act 1987 M4 , an authorised credit institution, a person authorised under the law of a member State other than the United Kingdom to accept deposits who would, if he were to accept such deposits in the United Kingdom require authorisation under Part I of that Act, or an authorised insurance undertaking; or

(ii) a person authorised under the law of a member State to deal in securities [F22 or derivatives], who deals in securities [F22 or derivatives] on a relevant stock exchange [F22 or on a relevant investment exchange], whether as a member or otherwise; or

(iii) [F23 a relevant stock exchange,] a relevant investment exchange or a recognised clearing house; or

(b) if it is held by the Bank of England or by the central bank of a member State other than the United Kingdom;

and it is held by way of security only for the purposes of a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of his or its business as such a person.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(e)—

(a) “takeover offer” has the same meaning as in Part XIIIA; and

(b) “a threshold acceptance condition” means a condition that acceptances are received in respect of such proportion of the shares for which the takeover offer is made as is specified in or determined in accordance with the terms of the takeover offer.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1)(f) an interest of a person is an exempt custodian interest if it is held by him—

(a) as a custodian (whether under a trust or by a contract); or

(b) under an arrangement pursuant to which he has issued, or is to issue, depositary receipts in respect of the shares concerned.

(5) An interest referred to in any paragraph of subsection (1) (except for paragraph (c)) is disregarded only if the person referred to in the relevant paragraph or in subsection (4) is not entitled to exercise or control the exercise of voting rights in respect of the shares concerned; and for this purpose he is not so entitled if he is bound (whether by contract or otherwise) not to exercise the voting rights, or not to exercise them otherwise than in accordance with the instructions of another.

(6) In the case of an interest referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1), an interest of a person referred to in subsection (2) is disregarded only if that person—

(a) is not entitled (within the meaning of subsection (5)) to exercise or control the exercise of voting rights in respect of the shares concerned; or

(b) is so entitled, but has not evidenced any intention to exercise them or control their exercise nor taken any step to do so.

(7) For the purposes of subsections (5) and (6), voting rights which a person is entitled to exercise or of which he is entitled to control the exercise only in certain circumstances shall be taken into account only when the circumstances have arisen and for so long as they continue to obtain.

(8) An interest in shares of a company is also disregarded for the purposes of sections 198 to 202—

(a) if it is held by a market maker in securities or derivatives for the purposes of his business, but

(b) only in so far as it is not used by him for the purpose of intervening in the management of the company.

(9) For the purposes of subsection (8) a person is a market maker in securities or derivatives if—

(a) he is authorised under the law of a member State to deal in securities or derivatives and so deals on a relevant stock exchange or on a relevant investment exchange (whether as a member or otherwise); and

(b) he holds himself out at all normal times as willing to acquire and dispose of securities or derivatives at prices specified by him and in so doing is subject to the rules of that exchange;

and he holds an interest for the purposes of his business if he holds it for the purposes of a business carried on by him as a market maker in a member State.

[F24 (9A) Where—

(a) in pursuance of arrangements made with the operator of a relevant system—

(i) securities of a particular aggregate value are on any day transferred by means of that system from a person (“A”) to another person (“B”);

(ii) the securities are of kinds and amounts determined by the operator-system; and

(iii) the securities, or securities of the same kinds and amounts, are on the following day transferred by means of the relevant system from B to A; and

(b) the securities comprise any shares of a company,

any interest of B in those shares is also disregarded for the purposes of sections 198 to 202.

(9B) For the purposes of subsection (9A)—

(a) any day which, in England and Wales, is a non-business day for the purposes of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 F25 is disregarded; and

(b) expressions which are used in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 F26 have the same meanings as in those Regulations.]

(10) The following interests in shares in a public company which is not listed are also disregarded for the purposes of sections 198 to 202—

(a) an interest which subsists by virtue of—

(i) a scheme made under section 24 or 25 of the Charities Act 1993 M5 , section 25 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 M6 , section 11 of the Trustee Investments Act 1961 M7 or section 42 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982 M8 , or

(ii) the scheme set out in the Schedule to the Church Funds Investment Measure 1958 M9 ;

(b) an interest of the Church of Scotland General Trustees or of the Church of Scotland Trust in shares held by them or of any other person in shares held by those Trustees or that Trust otherwise than as simple trustees;

(c) an interest for the life of himself or another of a person under a settlement in the case of which the property comprised in the settlement consists of or includes shares, and the conditions mentioned in subsection (11) are satisfied;

F27 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) an interest of the Accountant General of the Supreme Court in shares held by him;

(f) an interest of the Public Trustee;

(g) an interest of the Probate Judge subsisting by virtue of section 3 of the Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 M10 .

(11) The conditions referred to in subsection (10)(c) are, in relation to a settlement—

(a) that it is irrevocable, and

(b) that the settlor (within the meaning of section 670 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988) has no interest in any income arising under, or property comprised in, the settlement.

(12) A person is not by virtue of section 208(4)(b) taken to be interested in shares by reason only that he has been appointed a proxy to vote at a specified meeting of a company or of any class of its members and at any adjournment of that meeting, or has been appointed by a corporation to act as its representative at any meeting of a company or of any class of its members.

(13) In the application of subsection (1)(a) to property held on trust according to the law of Scotland, for the words “or remainder or an interest of a bare trustee” there shall be substituted “or in fee or an interest of a simple trustee”.]

Textual Amendments

F19 S. 209 substituted (18.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/1819, reg. 8

F20 Word in s. 209(1)(h)(i) omitted (6.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/2827, reg. 75, Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 6

F21 S. 209(1)(h)(iii) and the word “or” immediately preceding it inserted (6.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/2827, reg. 75, Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 6

F22 Words in s. 209(2)(a)(i) inserted (29.10.1993) by S.I. 1993/2689, reg. 3(a)

F23 Words in s. 209(2)(a)(iii) inserted (29.10.1993) by S.I. 1993/2689, reg. 3(b)

F24 S. 209(9A)(9B) inserted (15.7.1996) by S.I 1996/1560, reg. 2

F25 1882 c.61; section 92 (computation of time) was amended by sections 3(1) and 4(4) of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (c.80).

F26 S.I. 1995/3272.

F27 S. 209(10)(d) repealed (1.7.1995) by 1994 c. 36, s. 21(2), Sch. 2 (with s. 20); S.I. 1995/1317, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M3 1988 c.1.

M4 1987 c.22.

M5 1993 c.10.

M6 1964 c.33 (N.I.).

M7 1961 c.62.

M8 1982 c.53.

M9 1958 No.1.

M10 1955 c.24 (N.I.).

210 Other provisions about notification under this Part. E+W+S

(1) Where a person authorises another (“the agent”) to acquire or dispose of, on his behalf, interests in shares comprised in relevant share capital of a public company, he shall secure that the agent notifies him immediately of acquisitions or disposals effected by the agent which will or may give rise to any obligation of disclosure imposed on him by this Part with respect to his interest in that share capital.

(2) An obligation of disclosure imposed on a person by any provision of sections 198 to 202 is treated as not being fulfilled unless the notice by means of which it purports to be fulfilled identifies him and gives his address and, in a case where he is a director of the company, is expressed to be given in fulfilment of that obligation.

(3) A person who—

(a) fails to fulfil, within the proper period, an obligation of disclosure imposed on him by this Part, or

(b) in purported fulfilment of any such obligation makes to a company a statement which he knows to be false, or recklessly makes to a company a statement which is false, or

(c) fails to fulfil, within the proper period, an obligation to give another person a notice required by section 206, or

(d) fails without reasonable excuse to comply with subsection (1) of this section,

is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (3)(c) to prove that it was not possible for him to give the notice to the other person required by section 206 within the proper period, and either—

(a) that it has not since become possible for him to give the notice so required, or

(b) that he gave the notice as soon after the end of that period as it became possible for him to do so.

(5) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section (other than an offence relating to his ceasing to be interested in a company’s shares), the Secretary of State may by order direct that the shares in relation to which the offence was committed shall, until further order, be subject to the restrictions of Part XV of this Act; and such an order may be made notwithstanding any power in the company’s memorandum or articles enabling the company to impose similar restrictions on those shares.

[F28 (5A) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that an order under subsection (5) may unfairly affect the rights of third parties in respect of shares then the Secretary of State, for the purpose of protecting such rights and subject to such terms as he thinks fit, may direct that such acts by such persons or descriptions of persons and for such purposes as may be set out in the order, shall not constitute a breach of the restrictions of Part XV of this Act.]

(6) Sections 732 (restriction on prosecutions) and 733(2) and (3) (liability of directors, etc.) apply to offences under this section.

Textual Amendments

F28 S. 210(5A) inserted by S.I. 1991/1646, reg.3

[F29 210A Power to make further provision by regulations. E+W+S

(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.]

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 210A inserted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 134(5), 213(2)