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PART 5PROVISIONS REQUIRED BY THE EC REGULATION

Power of Secretary of State where an SE no longer complies with the requirements of Article 7

73.—(1) If it appears that an SE no longer complies with the requirements laid down in Article 7, the Secretary of State may direct the SE to regularise its position in accordance with Article 64(1)(a) or (b) within such period as may be specified in the direction.

(2) A direction under paragraph (1) is enforceable by the Secretary of State—

(a)in the case of an SE whose registered office is in England and Wales, by an application to the High Court for an injunction; or

(b)in the case of an SE whose registered office is in Scotland, by an application to the Court of Session for an order under section 45 of the Court of Session Act 1988(1).

(3) After section 124A of the Insolvency Act 1986 insert—

Petition for winding up of SE

124B.“(1) Where—

(a)an SE whose registered office is in Great Britain is not in compliance with Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 on the Statute for a European company (the “EC Regulation”) (location of head office and registered office), and

(b)it appears to the Secretary of State that the SE should be wound up, he may present a petition for it to be wound up if the court thinks it is just and equitable for it to be so.

(2) This section does not apply if the SE is already being wound up by the court.

(3) In this section “SE” has the same meaning as in the EC Regulation.

(4) The Insolvency Act 1986 is consequentially amended as follows—

(a)in section 124 (application for winding up), in subsection (4)(b) after “124A” insert “or 124B”;

(b)in Schedule A1 (moratorium where directors propose voluntary arrangement), in paragraph 12(5)(a), after “124A” insert “or 124B”;

(c)in Schedule B1 (administration), in paragraphs 40(2)(a), 42(4)(a) and 82(1)(a) after “124A (public interest),” insert

(aa)section 124B (SEs),.