(1)In the circumstances specified below in this Act a court may, and under [F1sections 6 and 9A] shall, make against a person a disqualification order, that is to say an order that [F2for a period specified in the order—
(a)he shall not be a director of a company, act as receiver of a company’s property or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the promotion, formation or management of a company unless (in each case) he has the leave of the court, and
(b)he shall not act as an insolvency practitioner.]
(2)In each section of this Act which gives to a court power or, as the case may be, imposes on it the duty to make a disqualification order there is specified the maximum (and, in section 6, the minimum) period of disqualification which may or (as the case may be) must be imposed by means of the order [F3and, unless the court otherwise orders, the period of disqualification so imposed shall begin at the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the order].
(3)Where a disqualification order is made against a person who is already subject to such an order [F4or to a disqualification undertaking], the periods specified in those orders [F4or, as the case may be, in the order and the undertaking] shall run concurrently.
(4)A disqualification order may be made on grounds which are or include matters other than criminal convictions, notwithstanding that the person in respect of whom it is to be made may be criminally liable in respect of those matters.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(1) substituted (20.6.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 204(3), 279; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2, Sch.
F2Words in s. 1(1) substituted (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 5(1); S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(1)(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3)
F3Words in s. 1(2) inserted (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 5(2); S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(1)(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3)
F4Words in s. 1(3) inserted (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 8, Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 2; S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(1)(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 1, 2 extended (with modifications) (1.7.1989) by S.I. 1989/638, regs. 20, 21
(1)In the circumstances specified in sections 7 and 8 the Secretary of State may accept a disqualification undertaking, that is to say an undertaking by any person that, for a period specified in the undertaking, the person—
(a)will not be a director of a company, act as receiver of a company’s property or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the promotion, formation or management of a company unless (in each case) he has the leave of a court, and
(b)will not act as an insolvency practitioner.
(2)The maximum period which may be specified in a disqualification undertaking is 15 years; and the minimum period which may be specified in a disqualification undertaking under section 7 is two years.
(3)Where a disqualification undertaking by a person who is already subject to such an undertaking or to a disqualification order is accepted, the periods specified in those undertakings or (as the case may be) the undertaking and the order shall run concurrently.
(4)In determining whether to accept a disqualification undertaking by any person, the Secretary of State may take account of matters other than criminal convictions, notwithstanding that the person may be criminally liable in respect of those matters.]
Textual Amendments
F5S. 1A inserted (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 6(2); S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(1)(a) (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3)