Open-Ended Investment Companies (Investment Companies with Variable Capital) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Power of court to grant relief in certain cases

57.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer of an investment company with variable capital or a person (whether or not an officer of the company) employed by the company as auditor; or

(b) any proceedings against the depositary of such a company for failure to exercise due care and diligence in the discharge of his functions in respect of the company.

(2) If in any proceedings to which this regulation applies it appears to the court hearing the case—

(a) that the officer, auditor or depositary is or may be liable in respect of the cause of action in question;

(b) that, nevertheless, he has acted honestly and reasonably; and

(c) that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused from the liability sought to be enforced against him;

the court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his liability on such terms as it may think fit.

(3) If any such officer, auditor or depositary has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in proceedings to which this regulation applies, he may apply to the court for relief.

(4) The court, on an application under paragraph (3), has the same power to relieve the applicant under this regulation as it would have had if it had been a court before which the relevant proceedings against the applicant had been brought.

(5) Where a case to which paragraph (2) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant ought in pursuance of that paragraph to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper.