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Companies Act 2006

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Changes to legislation:

Companies Act 2006, Part 36 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Part 36 U.K.Offences under the Companies Acts

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Liability of officer in defaultU.K.

1121Liability of officer in defaultU.K.

(1)This section has effect for the purposes of any provision of the Companies Acts to the effect that, in the event of contravention of an enactment in relation to a company, an offence is committed by every officer of the company who is in default.

(2)For this purpose “officer” includes—

(a)any director, manager or secretary, and

(b)any person who is to be treated as an officer of the company for the purposes of the provision in question.

(3)An officer is “in default” for the purposes of the provision if he authorises or permits, participates in, or fails to take all reasonable steps to prevent, the contravention.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 1121 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(e)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I1S. 1121 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1121 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1121 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1121 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1121 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12); s. 1121 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10. 2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g){5(3)(a)} (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1121 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1122Liability of company as officer in defaultU.K.

(1)Where a company is an officer of another company, it does not commit an offence as an officer in default unless one of its officers is in default.

(2)Where any such offence is committed by a company the officer in question also commits the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(3)In this section “officer” and “in default” have the meanings given by section 1121.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10S. 1122 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(e)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I2S. 1122 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1122 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1122 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1122 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1122 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12); s. 1122 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g){5(3)(a)} (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1122 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1123Application to bodies other than companiesU.K.

(1)Section 1121 (liability of officers in default) applies to a body other than a company as it applies to a company.

(2)As it applies in relation to a body corporate other than a company—

(a)the reference to a director of the company shall be read as referring—

(i)where the body's affairs are managed by its members, to a member of the body,

(ii)in any other case, to any corresponding officer of the body, and

(b)the reference to a manager or secretary of the company shall be read as referring to any manager, secretary or similar officer of the body.

(3)As it applies in relation to a partnership—

(a)the reference to a director of the company shall be read as referring to a member of the partnership, and

(b)the reference to a manager or secretary of the company shall be read as referring to any manager, secretary or similar officer of the partnership.

(4)As it applies in relation to an unincorporated body other than a partnership—

(a)the reference to a director of the company shall be read as referring—

(i)where the body's affairs are managed by its members, to a member of the body,

(ii)in any other case, to a member of the governing body, and

(b)the reference to a manager or secretary of the company shall be read as referring to any manager, secretary or similar officer of the body.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C22S. 1123 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(e)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I3S. 1123 wholly in force; s. 1123 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 1300; s. 1123 in force for specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1123 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l) (with saving in art. 12); s. 1123 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1123 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

Offences under the Companies Act 1985U.K.

1124Amendments of the Companies Act 1985U.K.

Schedule 3 contains amendments of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) relating to offences.

Commencement Information

I4S. 1124 wholly in force at 1.10.2007; s. 1124 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 1300, s. 1124 in force at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(k) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional adaptations specified in Sch. 1)

General provisionsU.K.

1125Meaning of “daily default fine”U.K.

(1)This section defines what is meant in the Companies Acts where it is provided that a person guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding a specified amount “and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine” not exceeding a specified amount.

(2)This means that the person is liable on a second or subsequent summary conviction of the offence to a fine not exceeding the latter amount for each day on which the contravention is continued (instead of being liable to a fine not exceeding the former amount).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C24S. 1125 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(f)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I5S. 1125 wholly in force at 1.10.2009 ; s. 1125 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1125 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1125 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1125 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1125 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1125 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1126Consents required for certain prosecutionsU.K.

(1)This section applies to proceedings for an offence under any of the following provisions—

  • section 458, 460 or 949 of this Act (offences of unauthorised disclosure of information);

  • section 953 of this Act (failure to comply with rules about takeover bid documents);

  • section 448, 449, 450, 451 or 453A of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) (offences in connection with company investigations);

  • section 798 of this Act or section 455 of the Companies Act 1985 (offence of attempting to evade restrictions on shares).

(2)No such proceedings are to be brought in England and Wales except by or with the consent of—

(a)in the case of an offence under—

(i)section 458, 460 or 949 of this Act,

(ii)section 953 of this Act, or

(iii)section 448, 449, 450, 451 or 453A of the Companies Act 1985,

the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions;

(b)in the case of an offence under section 798 of this Act or section 455 of the Companies Act 1985, the Secretary of State.

(3)No such proceedings are to be brought in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of—

(a)in the case of an offence under—

(i)section 458, 460 or 949 of this Act,

(ii)section 953 of this Act, or

(iii)section 448, 449, 450, 451 or 453A of the Companies Act 1985,

the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland;

(b)in the case of an offence under section 798 of this Act or section 455 of the Companies Act 1985, the Secretary of State.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I6S. 1126 wholly in force at 6.4.2008; s. 1126 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1126 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1126 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1126 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l) (with saving in art. 12); s. 1126 fully in force at 6.4.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, art. 3(1)(n) (with savings in arts. 7, 12)

1127Summary proceedings: venueU.K.

(1)Summary proceedings for any offence under the Companies Acts may be taken—

(a)against a body corporate, at any place at which the body has a place of business, and

(b)against any other person, at any place at which he is for the time being.

(2)This is without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this section.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C28S. 1127 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(g)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I7S. 1127 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1127 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1127 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1127 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1127 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1127 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1127 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1128Summary proceedings: time limit for proceedingsU.K.

(1)An information relating to an offence under the Companies Acts that is triable by a magistrates' court in England and Wales may be so tried if it is laid—

(a)at any time within three years after the commission of the offence, and

(b)within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge.

(2)Summary proceedings in Scotland for an offence under the Companies Acts—

(a)must not be commenced after the expiration of three years from the commission of the offence;

(b)subject to that, may be commenced at any time—

(i)within twelve months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate's opinion to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge, or

(ii)where such evidence was reported to him by the Secretary of State, within twelve months after the date on which it came to the knowledge of the latter.

Section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46) (date when proceedings deemed to be commenced) applies for the purposes of this subsection as for the purposes of that section.

(3)A magistrates' court in Northern Ireland has jurisdiction to hear and determine a complaint charging the commission of a summary offence under the Companies Acts provided that the complaint is made—

(a)within three years from the time when the offence was committed, and

(b)within twelve months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge.

(4)For the purposes of this section a certificate of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Lord Advocate, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to his notice is conclusive evidence.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C39S. 1128 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(g)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I8S. 1128 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1128 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1128 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1128 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1128 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1128 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1128 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1129Legal professional privilegeU.K.

In proceedings against a person for an offence under the Companies Acts, nothing in those Acts is to be taken to require any person to disclose any information that he is entitled to refuse to disclose on grounds of legal professional privilege (in Scotland, confidentiality of communications).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C50S. 1129 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(h)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I9S. 1129 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1129 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1129 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1129 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1129 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1129 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1129 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1130Proceedings against unincorporated bodiesU.K.

(1)Proceedings for an offence under the Companies Acts alleged to have been committed by an unincorporated body must be brought in the name of the body (and not in that of any of its members).

(2)For the purposes of such proceedings—

(a)any rules of court relating to the service of documents have effect as if the body were a body corporate, and

(b)the following provisions apply as they apply in relation to a body corporate—

(i)in England and Wales, section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 (c. 86) and Schedule 3 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43),

(ii)in Scotland, sections 70 and 143 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46),

(iii)in Northern Ireland, section 18 of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 (c. 15 (N.I.)) and Article 166 of and Schedule 4 to the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)).

(3)A fine imposed on an unincorporated body on its conviction of an offence under the Companies Acts must be paid out of the funds of the body.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C61S. 1130 applied (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations (S.I. 2007/2974), {reg. 4(1)(i)} (with transitional provisions in Sch. 1 para. 2)

Commencement Information

I10S. 1130 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1130 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1130 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1130 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1130 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1130 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1130 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

1131Imprisonment on summary conviction in England and Wales: transitory provisionU.K.

(1)This section applies to any provision of the Companies Acts that provides that a person guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction in England and Wales to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.

(2)In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), for “twelve months” substitute “six months”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I11S. 1131 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1131 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1131 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1131 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1131 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1131 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1131 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

Production and inspection of documentsU.K.

1132Production and inspection of documents where offence suspectedU.K.

(1)An application under this section may be made—

(a)in England and Wales, to a judge of the High Court by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Secretary of State or a chief officer of police;

(b)in Scotland, to one of the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary by the Lord Advocate;

(c)in Northern Ireland, to the High Court by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment or a chief superintendent of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(2)If on an application under this section there is shown to be reasonable cause to believe—

(a)that any person has, while an officer of a company, committed an offence in connection with the management of the company's affairs, and

(b)that evidence of the commission of the offence is to be found in any documents in the possession or control of the company,

an order under this section may be made.

(3)The order may—

(a)authorise any person named in it to inspect the documents in question, or any of them, for the purpose of investigating and obtaining evidence of the offence, or

(b)require the secretary of the company, or such other officer of it as may be named in the order, to produce the documents (or any of them) to a person named in the order at a place so named.

(4)This section applies also in relation to documents in the possession or control of a person carrying on the business of banking, so far as they relate to the company's affairs, as it applies to documents in the possession or control of the company, except that no such order as is referred to in subsection (3)(b) may be made by virtue of this subsection.

(5)The decision under this section of a judge of the High Court, any of the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary or the High Court is not appealable.

(6)In this section “document” includes information recorded in any form.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I12S. 1132 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1132 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1132 in force for specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1132 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1132 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1132 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

SupplementaryU.K.

1133Transitional provisionU.K.

The provisions of this Part except section 1132 do not apply to offences committed before the commencement of the relevant provision.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I13S. 1133 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1133 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1133 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1133 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); s. 1133 in force for further specified purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with saving in art. 12 and subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch. 1); s. 1133 in force for further specified purposes at 6.4.2008 and 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with savings in arts. 7, 12); s. 1133 otherwise in force at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)

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