2F1 Effect of, and time for, striking balance.

1

Any person who, at the time of the balance being struck for a dividend on stock, is F2entered in a relevant register as a stockholder shall, as between himself and any transferee of the stock, be entitled to the then current half-year’s or quarter’s dividend.

2

Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, the F3Registrar of Government Stock may—

a

strike the balance for a dividend on stock before the day on which the dividend is payable, and

b

strike the balances for dividends on stock at times such that the interval between—

i

the time at which the balance for a dividend is struck, and

ii

the day on which the dividend is payable,

is different in different cases.

3

The balance for a dividend on any stock shall not be struck at different times for different holdings of that stock unless—

a

the case is one where the use of different times for different holdings of the same stock is authorised by order made by the Treasury; and

b

such requirements (if any) as may be imposed by an order so made are complied with in relation to the striking of that balance.

4

The time at which the balance for a dividend on any stock is struck shall not fall before—

a

the beginning of the tenth business day before the day on which the dividend is payable; or

b

such later time (if any) as may be determined, in accordance with an order made by the Treasury, to be the earliest time at which that balance may be struck.

5

In this section “ business day ” means any day other than—

a

a Saturday or Sunday;

b

Good Friday or Christmas Day;

c

a day which, in any part of the United Kingdom, is a bank holiday under the M1Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971;

d

a day specified in an order under section 2(1) of that Act (days on which financial dealings are suspended) and declared by that order to be a non-business day for the purposes of this section; or

e

a day appointed by Royal proclamation as a public fast or thanksgiving day.

6

An order made by the Treasury for the purposes of subsection (3) or (4) above—

a

shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; and

b

may make different provision for different cases and contain such exceptions and exclusions, and such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision, as the Treasury may think fit.