Companies Act 1985

[F1 447 Power to require documents and information U.K.

(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.

[F2 (9) The power under this section to require production of a document includes power, in the case of a document not in hard copy form, to require the production of a copy of the document—

(a) in hard copy form, or

(b) in a form from which a hard copy can be readily obtained.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 447 substituted (6.4.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27), ss. 21, 65; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (subject to arts 3-13)

F2 S. 447(9) substituted (1.10.2007) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1038(2), 1300; S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(k) (with art. 12, Sch. 3 para. 48)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 447 extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1989/638, regs. 18, 21, Sch. 4 para. 10

C2 S. 447 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1090, reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I