Companies Act 1985

[F1 245C Other persons authorised to apply to court. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may authorise for the purposes of section 245B any person appearing to him—

(a) to have an interest in, and to have satisfactory procedures directed to securing, compliance by companies with the accounting requirements of this Act, [F2 (or, where applicable, of Article 4 of the IAS Regulation)]

(b) to have satisfactory procedures for receiving and investigating complaints about the annual accounts of companies, and

(c) otherwise to be a fit and proper person to be authorised.

[F3 (1A) But where the order giving authorisation (see subsection (4)) is to contain any requirements or other provisions specified under subsection (4A), the Secretary of State may not authorise a person unless, in addition, it appears to him that the person would, if authorised, exercise his functions as an authorised person in accordance with any such requirements or provisions.]

(2) A person may be authorised generally or in respect of particular classes of case, and different persons may be authorised in respect of different classes of case.

(3) The Secretary of State may refuse to authorise a person if he considers that his authorisation is unnecessary having regard to the fact that there are one or more other persons who have been or are likely to be authorised.

(4) Authorisation shall be by order made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

[F4 (4A) An order under subsection (4) may contain such requirements or other provisions relating to the exercise of functions by the authorised person as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(4B) If the authorised person is an unincorporated association, any relevant proceedings may be brought by or against that association in the name of any body corporate whose constitution provides for the establishment of the association.

For this purpose “relevant proceedings” means proceedings brought in, or in connection with, the exercise of any function by the association as an authorised person.]

(5) Where authorisation is revoked, the revoking order may make such provision as the Secretary of State thinks fit with respect to pending proceedings.

(6) F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 New ss. 245–245C inserted (subject to the saving and transitional provisions in S.I. 1990/2569, art. 6) by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 1, 12, 213(2) as part of the text inserted in place of ss. 221–262 (as mentioned in s. 1(a) of the 1989 Act)

F2 Words in ss. 245-245C inserted (12.11.2004 with effect as mentioned in reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Companies Act 1985 (International Accounting Standards and Other Accounting Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2947), reg. 3, Sch. 1 para. 11

F3 S. 245C(1A) inserted (1.1.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27), ss. 10(1)(2), 65; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-13)

F4 S. 245C(4A)(4B) inserted (1.1.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27), ss. 10(1)(3), 65; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-13)

F5 S. 245C(6) repealed (1.1.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 64, 65, Sch. 8; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-13)