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Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland >> Open-Ended Investment Companies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 No. 335 URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_reg/2004/20040335.html |
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Made | 10th August 2004 | ||
To be laid before Parliament under paragraph 7(3) of the Schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000. | |||
Coming into operation - | |||
For the purposes of regulation 6 | 15th September 2004 | ||
For all other purposes | 1st November 2004 |
1. | Citation, commencement and extent |
2. | Interpretation |
3. | Open-ended investment company |
4. | Registration by the Authority |
5. | Safekeeping of scheme property by depositary |
6. | FSA rules |
7. | Modification or waiver of FSA rules |
8. | Notices: general |
9. | Publication |
10. | The Authority's procedures |
11. | The Tribunal |
12. | Applications for authorisation |
13. | Particulars of directors |
14. | Authorisation |
15. | Requirements for authorisation |
16. | Representations against refusal of authorisation |
17. | Certificates |
18. | Registrar's approval of names |
19. | Prohibition on certain names |
20. | Registrar's index of company names |
21. | The Authority's approval for certain changes in respect of a company |
22. | Procedure when refusing approval of proposed changes |
23. | Ending of authorisation |
24. | Procedure |
25. | Directions |
26. | Applications to the court |
27. | Procedure on giving directions under regulation 25 and varying them on Authority's own initiative |
28. | Procedure: refusal to revoke or vary direction |
29. | Procedure: revocation of direction and grant of request for variation |
30. | Power to investigate |
31. | Winding up by the court |
32. | Dissolution on winding up by the court |
33. | Dissolution in other circumstances |
34. | Directors |
35. | Directors to have regard to interests of employees |
36. | Inspection of directors' service contracts |
37. | General meetings |
38. | Capacity of company |
39. | Power of directors and general meeting to bind the company |
40. | No duty to enquire as to capacity etc. |
41. | Exclusion of deemed notice |
42. | Restraint and ratification by shareholders |
43. | Events affecting company status |
44. | Invalidity of certain transactions involving directors |
45. | Shares |
46. | Share certificates |
47. | Exceptions from regulation 46 |
48. | Bearer shares |
49. | Register of shareholders |
50. | Power to close register |
51. | Power of court to rectify register |
52. | Share transfers |
53. | Power incidental to carrying on business |
54. | Name to appear in correspondence etc. |
55. | Particulars to appear in correspondence etc. |
56. | Contracts |
57. | Execution of documents |
58. | Execution of deeds outside the United Kingdom |
59. | Authentication of documents |
60. | Official seal for share certificates |
61. | Personal liability for contracts and deeds |
62. | Exemptions from liability to be void |
63. | Power of court to grant relief in certain cases |
64. | Punishment for fraudulent trading |
65. | Power to provide for employees on cessation or transfer of business |
66. | Reports: preparation |
67. | Reports: accounts |
68. | Reports: voluntary revision |
69. | Auditors |
70. | Mergers and divisions |
71. | Register of open-ended investment companies |
72. | Companies' registered numbers |
73. | Delivery of documents to the Authority |
74. | Keeping of company records by the Authority |
75. | Inspection etc. of records kept by the Authority |
76. | Provision by the Authority of documents in non-legible form |
77. | Public notice by the Authority of receipt and issue of certain documents |
78. | Exclusion of deemed notice |
79. | Contraventions |
80. | Offences by bodies corporate etc. |
81. | Jurisdiction and procedure in respect of offences |
82. | Evidence of grant of probate etc. |
83. | Minor and consequential amendments |
84. | Revocation etc. |
Schedule 1 - | Depositaries |
Schedule 2 - | Instrument of incorporation |
Schedule 3 - | Register of shareholders |
Schedule 4 - | Share transfers |
Schedule 5 - | Auditors |
Schedule 6 - | Mergers and divisions |
Schedule 7 - | Minor and consequential amendments |
(2) Subject to regulation 20(2)(b), these Regulations have effect in relation to any open-ended investment company which has its head office situated in Northern Ireland.
Interpretation
2.
- (1) In these Regulations -
(2) In these Regulations any reference to a shareholder of an open-ended investment company is a reference to -
(3) In these Regulations, expressions which are also used in the Act have the same meaning as in the Act and expressions which are also used in the 1986 Order have the same meaning as in the 1986 Order.
(2) In this regulation any reference to the instrument of incorporation of a company is a reference to the instrument of incorporation supplied for the purposes of regulation 14(1)(c).
Safekeeping of scheme property by depositary
5.
- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), all the scheme property of an open-ended investment company must be entrusted for safekeeping to a person appointed for the purpose (a depositary).
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) -
(3) Schedule 1 makes provision with respect to depositaries of open-ended investment companies.
FSA rules
6.
- (1) The Authority's powers to make rules under section 247 (trust scheme rules) and section 248 (scheme particulars rules) of the Act in relation to authorised unit trust schemes are, subject to the provisions of these Regulations, exercisable in relation to open-ended investment companies -
(2) In these Regulations any document which a person is required to submit and publish by virtue of rules made by the Authority under paragraph (1) for like purposes to those in section 248 of the Act is referred to as a prospectus.
Modification or waiver of FSA rules
7.
- (1) The Authority may, on the application or with the consent of any person to whom any FSA rules apply, direct that all or any of the FSA rules -
(2) The Authority may, on the application or with the consent of an open-ended investment company and its depositary acting jointly, direct that all or any of the FSA rules -
(3) Section 148(3) to (9) and (11) of the Act (modification or waiver of rules) has effect in relation to a direction under paragraph (1) as it has effect in relation to a direction under section 148(2) of the Act but with the following modifications -
(4) Section 148(3) to (9) and (11) of the Act has effect in relation to a direction under paragraph (2) as it has effect in relation to a direction under section 148(2) of the Act but with the following modifications -
Notices: general
8.
Subject to the provisions of these Regulations -
Publication
9.
Section 391 of the Act (publication) applies to the notices mentioned in regulation 8 in the same way as it applies to any such notice given under any provision of the Act.
The Authority's procedures
10.
Section 395 of the Act (the Authority's procedures) applies to the procedure relating to the Authority's functions in relation to supervisory notices, warning notices and decision notices given under any provision of these Regulations.
The Tribunal
11.
Section 133 of the Act (proceedings: general provision) applies to any reference to the Tribunal under these Regulations as it applies to any reference to the Tribunal under the Act.
(2) At any time after receiving an application and before determining it the Authority may require the applicant to furnish additional information.
(3) Different directions may be given and different requirements imposed in relation to different applications.
(4) Any information to be furnished to the Authority under this regulation must be in such form or verified in such manner as it may specify.
(5) A person commits an offence if -
he furnishes information which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in a material particular.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (5) is liable -
Particulars of directors
13.
- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), an application for an authorisation order must contain the following particulars with respect to each person proposed as a director of the company -
(2) The application need not contain particulars of a directorship -
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), a body corporate is dormant during a period in which no significant transaction occurs; and it ceases to be dormant on the occurrence of such a transaction.
(4) In paragraph (1)(a) -
(c) the reference to directorships is a reference to directorships in any body corporate whether or not incorporated in Northern Ireland.
(5) In paragraph (3) the reference to a significant transaction is, in relation to a company within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the 1986 Order, a reference to a significant accounting transaction within the meaning of section 257AA(5)[6] of that Order.
Authorisation
14.
- (1) Where an application is duly made under regulation 12, the Authority may make an authorisation order in respect of an open-ended investment company if -
(2) If the Authority makes an order under paragraph (1), it must give written notice of the order to the applicant.
(3) In determining whether the requirement referred to in regulation 15(5) is satisfied in respect of any proposed director of a company, the Authority may take into account -
(4) An application must be determined by the Authority before the end of the period of six months beginning with the date on which it receives a completed application.
(5) The Authority may determine an incomplete application if it considers it appropriate to do so and, if it does so, it must determine the application within the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which it first receives the application.
(6) The applicant may withdraw his application, by giving the Authority written notice, at any time before the Authority determines it.
(7) An authorisation order must specify the date on which it is to come into effect.
(8) Schedule 2 makes provision with respect to the contents, alteration and binding nature of the instrument of incorporation of an open-ended investment company.
Requirements for authorisation
15.
- (1) The requirements referred to in regulation 14(1)(a) are as follows.
(2) The company and its instrument of incorporation must comply with the requirements of these Regulations and FSA rules.
(3) The head office of the company must be situated in Northern Ireland.
(4) The company must have at least one director.
(5) The directors of the company must be fit and proper persons to act as such.
(6) If the company has only one director, that director must be a body corporate which is an authorised person and which has permission under the Act to act as sole director of an open-ended investment company.
(7) If the company has two or more directors, the combination of their experience and expertise must be such as is appropriate for the purposes of carrying on the business of the company.
(8) The person appointed as the depositary of the company -
(9) The name of the company must not be undesirable or misleading.
(10) The aims of the company must be reasonably capable of being achieved.
(11) The company must meet one or both of the following requirements -
Representations against refusal of authorisation
16.
- (1) If the Authority proposes to refuse an application made under regulation 12, it must give the applicant a warning notice.
(2) If the Authority decides to refuse the application -
Certificates
17.
- (1) If an open-ended investment company which complies with the conditions necessary to enable it to enjoy the rights conferred by the UCITS Directive so requests, the Authority may issue a certificate to the effect that the company complies with those conditions.
(2) Such a certificate may be issued on the making of an authorisation order in respect of the company or at any subsequent time.
(b) includes an abbreviation of any of the words or expressions referred to in sub-paragraph (a); or
(c) is the same as any other name appearing in the registrar's index of company names.
(2) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) whether one name is the same as another, there are to be disregarded -
and "and" and "&" are to be taken as the same.
Registrar's index of company names
20.
- (1) Upon making an authorisation order in respect of an open-ended investment company or upon approving any change in the name of such a company, the Authority must notify the registrar of the name by which the company is incorporated or, as the case may be, of the company's new name.
(2) Article 663[8] of the 1986 Order (registrar's index of company and corporate names) has effect as if the bodies listed in paragraph (1) of that Article included -
The Authority's approval for certain changes in respect of a company
21.
- (1) An open-ended investment company must give written notice to the Authority of -
(2) Any notice given under paragraph (1)(a) must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a solicitor to the effect that the change in question will not affect the compliance of the instrument of incorporation with Schedule 2 and with such of the requirements of FSA rules as relate to the contents of that instrument.
(3) Effect must not be given to any proposal falling within paragraph (1) unless -
(4) No change falling within paragraph (1)(e) may be made if any of the requirements set out in regulation 15(4) to (7) and (8)(f) would not be satisfied if the change were made and no change falling within paragraph (1)(f) may be made if any of the requirements in regulation 15(8) would not be satisfied if the change were made.
Procedure when refusing approval of proposed changes
22.
- (1) If the Authority proposes to refuse approval of a proposal to replace the depositary, or any director, of an open-ended investment company, it must give a warning notice to the company.
(2) If the Authority proposes to refuse approval of any other proposal falling within regulation 21, it must give separate warning notices to the company and its depositary.
(3) To be valid the warning notice must be received by that person before the end of one month beginning with the date on which notice of the proposal was given.
(4) If, having given a warning notice to a person, the Authority decides to refuse approval -
(5) If, having given a warning notice to a person, the Authority decides to approve the proposal, it must give him a decision notice.
(c) no regulated activity has been carried on in relation to the company for the previous twelve months; or
(d) it is desirable to revoke the authorisation order in order to protect the interests of shareholders or potential shareholders in the company.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), the Authority may take into account any matter relating to -
(3) Before revoking any authorisation order that has come into effect, the Authority must ensure that such steps as are necessary and appropriate to secure the winding up of the company (whether by the court or otherwise) have been taken.
Procedure
24.
- (1) If the Authority proposes to make an order revoking an authorisation order (a revoking order), it must give separate warning notices to the company and its depositary.
(2) If, having given warning notices, the Authority decides to make a revoking order it must without delay give the company and its depositary a decision notice and either of them may refer the matter to the Tribunal.
(3) Sections 393 and 394 of the Act apply to a warning notice or a decision notice given in accordance with this regulation.
(c) it is desirable to give a direction in order to protect the interests of shareholders or potential shareholders in the company.
(2) A direction under this regulation may -
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), if the authorisation order is revoked, the revocation does not affect the operation of any direction under this regulation which is then in force; and a direction under this regulation may be given in relation to a company in the case of which an authorisation order has been revoked if a direction under this regulation was already in force at the time of revocation.
(4) Where a winding-up order has been made by the court, no direction under this regulation is to have effect in relation to the company concerned.
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), the Authority may take into account any matter relating to any of the persons mentioned in regulation 23(2).
(6) If a person contravenes a direction under this regulation, section 150 of the Act (actions for damages) applies to the contravention as it applies to a contravention mentioned in that section.
(7) The Authority may, on its own initiative or on the application of the company or its depositary, revoke or vary a direction given under this regulation if it appears to the Authority -
Applications to the court
26.
- (1) This regulation applies if the Authority could give a direction under regulation 25 in relation to an open-ended investment company.
(2) The Authority may apply to the court for an order removing the depositary or any director of the company and replacing any such person with a person or persons nominated by the Authority.
(3) The Authority may nominate a person for the purposes of paragraph (2) only if it is satisfied that, if the order were made, the requirements of paragraphs (4) to (7) or, as the case may be, of paragraph (8) of regulation 15 would be met.
(4) If it appears to the Authority that there is no person whom it may nominate for the purposes of paragraph (2), it may apply to the court for an order removing the director in question or the depositary (or both) and appointing an authorised person to wind up the company.
(5) On an application under this regulation the court may make such order as it thinks fit.
(6) The court may, on the application of the Authority, rescind any such order as is mentioned in paragraph (4) and substitute such an order as is mentioned in paragraph (2).
(7) The Authority must -
(b) take such steps as it considers appropriate for bringing the making of the application to the attention of the shareholders of the company.
Procedure on giving directions under regulation 25 and varying them on Authority's own initiative
27.
- (1) A direction takes effect -
(2) A direction may be expressed to take effect immediately (or on a specified date) only if the Authority, having regard to the ground on which it is exercising its power under regulation 25, considers that it is necessary for the direction to take effect immediately (or on that date).
(3) If the Authority proposes to give a direction under regulation 25, or gives such a direction with immediate effect, it must give separate written notices to the company and its depositary.
(4) The notice must -
(5) If the direction imposes a requirement under regulation 25(2)(a) or (b), the notice must state that the requirement has effect until -
(6) If the direction imposes a requirement under regulation 25(2)(d) or (e), the petition must be presented (or, as the case may be, the company must be wound up) -
(7) The Authority may extend the period allowed under the notice for making representations.
(8) If, having considered any representations made by a person to whom the notice was given the Authority decides -
it must give separate written notices to the company and its depositary.
(9) If, having considered any representations made by a person to whom the notice was given, the Authority decides -
it must give separate written notices to the company and its depositary.
(10) A notice given under paragraph (8) must inform the person to whom it is given of his right to refer the matter to the Tribunal.
(11) A notice under paragraph (9)(b) must comply with paragraph (4).
(12) If a notice informs a person of his right to refer a matter to the Tribunal, it must give an indication of the procedure on such a reference.
(13) This regulation applies to the variation of a direction on the Authority's own initiative as it applies to the giving of a direction.
(14) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), whether a matter is open to review is to be determined in accordance with section 391(8) of the Act.
(15) Section 395 of the Act (the Authority's procedures) has effect as if subsection (13) included a reference to a notice given in accordance with paragraph (3), (8) or (9)(b).
Procedure: refusal to revoke or vary direction
28.
- (1) If on an application under regulation 25(7) for a direction to be revoked or varied the Authority proposes -
it must give the applicant a warning notice.
(2) If the Authority decides to refuse to revoke or vary the direction -
Procedure: revocation of direction and grant of request for variation
29.
- (1) If the Authority decides on its own initiative to revoke a direction under regulation 25 it must give separate written notices of its decision to the company and its depositary.
(2) If on an application made under regulation 25(7) for a direction to be revoked or varied, the Authority decides to revoke or vary it in accordance with the application, it must give the applicant written notice of its decision.
(3) A notice under this regulation must specify the date on which the decision take effect.
(4) The Authority may publish such information about the revocation or variation, in such way, as it considers appropriate.
(d) an open-ended investment company the directors of which include -
(e) a collective investment scheme the manager, depositary or operator of which is a director of the company whose affairs are being investigated by virtue of that paragraph;
(f) a collective investment scheme the trustee of which is -
(g) a collective investment scheme the manager, depositary or operator of which is -
(3) If a person (A) appointed to conduct an investigation under this regulation considers that a person (B) is or may be able to give information which is relevant to the investigation, A may require B -
and it is B's duty to comply with that requirement.
(4) Subsections (5) to (9) of section 170 of the Act (investigations: general) apply if -
as they apply in the cases mentioned in subsection (1) of that section.
(5) Section 174 of the Act (admissibility of statements made to investigators) applies to a statement made by a person in compliance with a requirement imposed on him under this regulation as it applies to a statement mentioned in that section.
(6) Subsections (2) to (4) and (6) of section 175 (information and documents: supplementary provisions) and section 177 of the Act (offences) have effect as if this regulation were contained in Part XI of the Act (information gathering and investigations).
(7) Subsections (1) to (8) of section 176 of the Act (entry of premises under warrant) apply in relation to a person appointed under paragraph (1) as if -
(8) No person may be required under this regulation to disclose information or produce a document in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on a banking business unless -
Winding up by the court
31.
- (1) Where an open-ended investment company is wound up as an unregistered company under Part VI of the 1989 Order, the provisions of that Order apply for the purposes of the winding up with the following modifications.
(2) A petition for the winding up of an open-ended investment company may be presented by the depositary of the company as well as by any person authorised under Article 104 (application for winding up) or Article 104A[9] of the 1989 Order (petition for winding up on grounds of public interest), as those Articles apply by virtue of Part VI of that Order, to present a petition for the winding up of the company.
(3) Where a petition for the winding up of an open-ended investment company is presented by a person other than the Authority -
(4) If, before the presentation of a petition for the winding up by the court of an open-ended investment company as an unregistered company under Part VI of the 1989 Order, the affairs of the company are being wound up otherwise than by the court -
Dissolution on winding up by the court
32.
- (1) Article 146(7) of the 1989 Order (final meeting of creditors and vacation of office by liquidator), as that Article applies by virtue of Part VI of that Order (winding up of unregistered companies) has effect, in relation to open-ended investment companies, as if the reference to the registrar was a reference to the Authority.
(2) Where, in respect of an open-ended investment company, the Authority receives -
the Authority must, on receipt of the notice, forthwith register it and, subject to the provisions of this regulation, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day of the registration of the notice, the company is to be dissolved.
(3) The Department may, on the application of the official receiver or any other person who appears to the Department to be interested, give a direction deferring the date at which the dissolution of the company is to take effect for such period as the Department thinks fit.
(4) An appeal to the court lies from any decision of the Department on an application for a direction under paragraph (3).
(5) It is the duty of the person -
not later than seven days after the giving of the direction, or the determination of the appeal, to deliver to the Authority for registration a copy of the direction or determination.
(6) If a person without reasonable excuse fails to deliver a copy as required by paragraph (5), he is guilty of an offence.
(7) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (6) is liable, on summary conviction -
Dissolution in other circumstances
33.
- (1) Where the affairs of an open-ended investment company have been wound up otherwise than by the court, the Authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the winding up is complete, register that fact and, subject to the provisions of this regulation, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day of the registration, the company is to be dissolved.
(2) The court may, on the application of the Authority or the company, make an order deferring the date at which the dissolution of the company is to take effect for such period as the court thinks fit.
(3) It is the duty of the company, on whose application an order of the court under paragraph (2) is made, to deliver to the Authority, not later than seven days after the making of the order, a copy of the order for registration.
(4) Where any company is dissolved by virtue of paragraph (1), any sum of money (including unclaimed distributions) standing to the account of the company at the date of the dissolution must on such date as is determined in accordance with FSA rules, be paid into court.
(4) The business of a company must be managed -
(5) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, FSA rules and the company's instrument of incorporation, the directors of a company may exercise all the powers of the company.
Directors to have regard to interests of employees
35.
- (1) The matters to which a director of an open-ended investment company must have regard in the performance of his functions include the interests of the company's employees in general, as well as the interests of its shareholders.
(2) The duty imposed by this regulation on a director is owed by him to the company (and the company alone) and is enforceable in the same way as any other fiduciary duty owed to a company by its directors.
Inspection of directors' service contracts
36.
- (1) Every open-ended investment company must keep at an appropriate place -
(2) All copies and memoranda kept by a company in accordance with paragraph (1) must be kept at the same place.
(3) The following are appropriate places for the purposes of paragraph (1) -
(4) Every copy and memorandum required by paragraph (1) to be kept must be open to the inspection of any shareholder of the company.
(5) If such an inspection is refused, the court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the copy or memorandum concerned.
(6) Every copy and memorandum required by paragraph (1) to be kept must be made available by the company for inspection by any shareholder at the company's annual general meeting.
(7) Paragraph (1) applies to a variation of a director's contract of service as it applies to the contract.
General meetings
37.
- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), every open-ended investment company must in each year hold a general meeting (annual general meeting) in addition to any other meetings, whether general or otherwise, it may hold in that year.
(2) If a company holds its first annual general meeting within 18 months of the date on which the authorisation order made by the Authority in respect of the company comes into effect, paragraph (1) does not require the company to hold any other meeting as its annual general meeting in the year of its incorporation or in the following year.
(3) Subject to paragraph (2), not more than 15 months may elapse between the date of one annual general meeting of a company and the date of the next.
Capacity of company
38.
- (1) The validity of an act done by an open-ended investment company cannot be called into question on the ground of lack of capacity by reason of anything in these Regulations, FSA rules or the company's instrument of incorporation.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) affects the duty of the directors to observe any limitations on their powers.
Power of directors and general meeting to bind the company
39.
- (1) In favour of a person dealing in good faith, the following powers, that is to say -
are deemed to be free of any limitation under the company's constitution.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation -
(3) The reference in paragraph (1) to any limitation under the company's constitution on the powers therein set out includes any limitation deriving from these Regulations, from FSA rules or from a resolution of the company in general meeting or of a meeting of any class of shareholders.
(4) Sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (2) do not apply where -
(5) Paragraph (1) does not affect any liability incurred by the directors or any other person by reason of the directors exceeding their powers.
No duty to enquire as to capacity etc.
40.
Subject to regulation 39(4)(b)(ii), a party to a transaction with an open-ended investment company is not bound to enquire -
Exclusion of deemed notice
41.
A person is not to be taken to have notice of any matter merely because of its being disclosed in any document made available by an open-ended investment company for inspection; but this does not affect the question whether a person is affected by notice of any matter by reason of a failure to make such enquiries as ought reasonably to be made.
Restraint and ratification by shareholders
42.
- (1) A shareholder of an open-ended investment company may bring proceedings to restrain the doing of an act which but for regulation 38(1) would be beyond the company's capacity.
(2) Paragraph (1) of regulation 39 does not affect any right of a shareholder of an open-ended investment company to bring proceedings to restrain the doing of an act which is beyond any of the powers referred to in that paragraph.
(3) No proceedings may be brought under paragraph (1) in respect of an act to be done in fulfilment of a legal obligation arising from a previous act of the company; and paragraph (2) does not have the effect of enabling proceedings to be brought in respect of any such act.
(4) Any action by the directors of a company -
may only be ratified by a resolution of the company in general meeting.
(5) A resolution ratifying such action does not affect any liability incurred by the directors or any other person, relief from any such liability requiring agreement by a separate resolution of the company in general meeting.
(6) Nothing in this regulation affects any power or right conferred by or arising under section 150 (actions for damages) or section 380, 382 or 384 of the Act (injunctions and restitution orders).
Events affecting company status
43.
- (1) Where either of the conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) is satisfied, an open-ended investment company is not entitled to rely against other persons on the happening of any of the following events -
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that -
(3) In this regulation official notification means the notification in the Belfast Gazette (by virtue of regulation 77) of any document containing the information referred to in paragraph (1), and officially notified is to be construed accordingly.
Invalidity of certain transactions involving directors
44.
- (1) This regulation applies where -
(2) The transaction is voidable at the instance of the company.
(3) Whether or not the transaction is avoided, any such party to the transaction as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), and any director of the company who authorised the transaction, is liable -
(4) Nothing in paragraphs (1) to (3) is to be construed as excluding the operation of any other statutory provision or rule of law by virtue of which the transaction may be called into question or any liability to the company may arise.
(5) The transaction ceases to be voidable if -
(6) A person other than a director of the company is not liable under paragraph (3) if he shows that at the time the transaction was entered into he did not know that the directors concerned were exceeding their powers.
(7) This regulation does not affect the operation of regulation 39 in relation to any party to the transaction not within paragraph (1)(a); but where a transaction is voidable by virtue of this regulation and valid by virtue of that regulation in favour of such a person, the court may, on the application of that person or of the company, make such order affirming, severing or setting aside the transaction, on such terms as appear to the court to be just.
(8) For the purposes of this regulation -
Shares
45.
- (1) An open-ended investment company may issue more than one class of shares.
(2) A shareholder may not have any interest in the scheme property of the company.
(3) The rights which attach to each share of any given class are -
(4) In respect of any class of shares, the rights referred to in paragraph (3) may, if the company's instrument of incorporation so provides, be expressed in two denominations; and in the case of any such class, one (the smaller) denomination is to be such proportion of the other (the larger) denomination as is fixed by the instrument of incorporation.
(5) In respect of any class of shares within paragraph (4), any share to which are attached rights expressed in the smaller denomination is to be known as a smaller denomination share; and any share to which are attached rights expressed in the larger denomination is to be known as a larger denomination share.
(6) In respect of any class of shares, the rights which attach to each share of that class are -
(7) In respect of any class of shares within paragraph (4), the rights that attach to any smaller denomination share of that class are to be a proportion of the rights that attach to any larger denomination share of that class and that proportion is to be the same as the proportion referred to in paragraph (4).
Share certificates
46.
- (1) Subject to regulations 47 and 48, an open-ended investment company must prepare documentary evidence of title to its shares (share certificates) as follows -
(e) in respect of any holding of bearer shares for which a certificate evidencing title has already been issued but where the certificate has been surrendered to the company for the purposes of being replaced by two or more certificates which between them evidence title to the shares comprising that holding; and
(f) in respect of any shares for which a certificate has already been issued but where it appears to the company that the certificate needs to be replaced as a result of having been lost, stolen or destroyed or having become damaged or worn out.
(2) A company must exercise due diligence and take all reasonable steps to ensure that certificates prepared in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) to (e) are ready for delivery as soon as reasonably practicable.
(3) Certificates need be prepared in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (1)(e) and (f) only if the company has received -
(4) Each share certificate must state -
(5) Where, in respect of any class of shares, the rights that attach to shares of that class are expressed in two denominations, the reference in paragraph (4)(a) (as it applies to shares of that class) to the number of shares is a reference to the total of -
N | + | n |
p |
(7) Nothing in these Regulations is to be taken as preventing the total arrived at under paragraph (5) being expressed on the certificate as a single entry representing the result derived from the formula set out in that paragraph.
(8) A share certificate specifying any shares held by any person which is -
is prima facie evidence of that person's title to the shares.
Exceptions from regulation 46
47.
- (1) Nothing in regulation 46 requires a company to prepare share certificates in the following cases.
(2) Case 1 is any case where the company's instrument of incorporation states that share certificates will not be issued and contains provision as to other procedures for evidencing a person's entitlement to shares.
(3) Case 2 is any case where a shareholder has indicated to the company in writing that he does not wish to receive a certificate.
(4) Case 3 is any case where shares are issued or transferred to the designated person.
(5) Case 4 is any case where shares are issued or transferred to a nominee of a recognised investment exchange who is designated for the purposes of this paragraph in the rules of the investment exchange in question.
Bearer shares
48.
An open-ended investment company may, if its instrument of incorporation so provides, issue shares (bearer shares) evidenced by a share certificate, or by any other documentary evidence of title for which provision is made in its instrument of incorporation, which indicates -
Register of shareholders
49.
Schedule 3 makes provision with respect to the register of shareholders of an open-ended investment company.
Power to close register
50.
- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), an open-ended investment company may, on giving notice by advertisement in a national newspaper circulating in all the countries in which shares in the company are sold, close the register of shareholders for any time or times not exceeding, in the whole, 30 days in each year.
(2) Paragraph (1) has effect subject to any requirements contained in FSA rules.
Power of court to rectify register
51.
- (1) An application to the court may be made under this regulation if -
(2) An application under this regulation may be made by the person aggrieved, by any shareholder of the company or by the company itself.
(3) The court may refuse the application or may order rectification of the register of shareholders and payment by the company of any damages sustained by any party aggrieved.
(4) On such an application the court may decide any question necessary or expedient to be decided for rectification of the register of shareholders including, in particular, any question relating to the right of a person who is a party to the application to have his name entered in or omitted from the register (whether the question arises as between shareholders and alleged shareholders or as between shareholders or alleged shareholders on the one hand and the company on the other hand).
Share transfers
52.
Schedule 4 makes provision for the transfer of registered and bearer shares in an open-ended investment company.
(2) Where, in accordance with regulation 72, the Authority makes any change of existing registered numbers in respect of any open-ended investment company then, for a period of three years beginning with the date on which the notification of the change is sent to the company by the Authority, the requirement of paragraph (1)(b) is, notwithstanding regulation 72(4), satisfied by the use of either the old number or the new.
Contracts
56.
A contract may be made -
and any formalities required by law in the case of a contract made by an individual also apply, unless a contrary intention appears, to a contract made by or on behalf of such a company.
Execution of documents
57.
- (1) The following provisions have effect with respect to the execution of documents by an open-ended investment company.
(2) A document is executed by a company by the affixing of its common seal.
(3) A company need not have a common seal, however, and the following provisions of this regulation apply whether it does or not.
(4) A document that is signed by at least one director and expressed (in whatever form of words) to be executed by the company has the same effect as if executed under the common seal of the company.
(5) A document executed by a company which makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed has effect, upon delivery, as a deed; and it is to be presumed, unless a contrary intention is proved, to be delivered upon its being executed.
(6) In favour of a purchaser, a document is deemed to have been duly executed by a company if it purports to be signed by at least one director or, in the case of a director which is a body corporate, it purports to be executed by that director; and, where it makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed, it is deemed to have been delivered upon its being executed.
(7) In paragraph (6), purchaser means a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and includes a lessee, mortgagee or other person who for valuable consideration acquires an interest in property.
Execution of deeds outside the United Kingdom
58.
- (1) An open-ended investment company may, by writing under its common seal, empower any person, either generally or in respect of any specified matters, as its attorney, to execute deeds on its behalf in any place elsewhere than in the United Kingdom.
(2) A deed executed by such an attorney on behalf of the company has the same effect as if it were executed under the company's common seal.
Authentication of documents
59.
A document or proceeding requiring authentication by an open-ended investment company is sufficiently authenticated -
Official seal for share certificates
60.
- (1) An open-ended investment company which has a common seal may have, for use for sealing shares issued by the company and for sealing documents creating or evidencing shares so issued, an official seal which is a facsimile of its common seal with the addition on its face of the word securities.
(2) The official seal when duly affixed to a document has the same effect as the company's common seal.
Personal liability for contracts and deeds
61.
- (1) A contract, which purports to be made by or on behalf of an open-ended investment company at a time before the coming into effect of an authorisation order in relation to that company, has effect (subject to any agreement to the contrary) as a contract made with the person purporting to act for the company or as agent for it, and he is accordingly personally liable under the contract.
(2) Paragraph (1) applies to the making of a deed as it applies to the making of a contract.
(3) If a company enters into a transaction at any time after the authorisation order made in respect of the company has been revoked and the company fails to comply with its obligations in respect of that transaction within 21 days of being called upon to do so, the person who authorised the transaction is liable, and where the transaction was authorised by two or more persons they are jointly and severally liable, to indemnify the other party to the transaction in respect of any loss or damage suffered by him by reason of the company's failure to comply with those obligations.
Exemptions from liability to be void
62.
- (1) This regulation applies to any provision, whether contained in the instrument of incorporation of an open-ended investment company or in any contract with the company or otherwise -
(2) Except as provided by the following paragraph, any such provision is void.
(3) This regulation does not prevent a company -
Power of court to grant relief in certain cases
63.
- (1) This regulation applies to -
(2) If, in any proceedings to which this regulation applies, it appears to the court hearing the case -
the court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his liability on such terms as it may think fit.
(3) If any such officer, auditor or depositary has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in proceedings to which this regulation applies, he may apply to the court for relief.
(4) The court, on an application under paragraph (3), has the same power to relieve the applicant as under this regulation it would have had if it had been a court before which the relevant proceedings against the applicant had been brought.
(5) Where a case to which paragraph (2) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant ought in pursuance of that paragraph to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper.
Punishment for fraudulent trading
64.
- (1) If any business of an open-ended investment company is carried on with intent to defraud creditors of the company or creditors of any other person, or for any fraudulent purposes, every person who was knowingly a party to the carrying on of the business in that manner is guilty of an offence and liable -
(2) This regulation applies whether or not the company has been, or is in the course of being, wound up (whether by the court or otherwise).
Power to provide for employees on cessation or transfer of business
65.
- (1) The powers of an open-ended investment company include power to make the following provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the company, that is to say, provision in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the company.
(2) The power conferred by paragraph (1) is exercisable notwithstanding that its exercise is not in the best interests of the company.
(3) The power which a company may exercise by virtue of paragraph (1) may only be exercised by the company -
(c) if the instrument of incorporation requires the exercise of the power to be sanctioned by a resolution of the company in general meeting for which more than a simple majority of the shareholders voting is necessary, by a resolution of that majority;
and in any case after compliance with any other requirements of the instrument of incorporation applicable to the exercise of the power.
(2) Where a company's first annual accounting period is a period of less than 12 months, a half-yearly report need not be prepared for any part of that period.
(3) The directors of a company must lay copies of the annual report before the company in general meeting.
(4) Nothing in this regulation or in regulation 67 prejudices the generality of regulation 6(1).
(5) In this regulation any reference to annual and half yearly accounting periods of a company is a reference to those periods as determined in relation to that company in accordance with FSA rules.
Reports: accounts
67.
- (1) The annual report of an open-ended investment company must, in respect of the annual accounting period to which it relates, contain accounts of the company.
(2) The company's auditors must make a report to the company's shareholders in respect of the accounts of the company contained in its annual report.
(3) A copy of the auditors' report must form part of the company's annual report.
Reports: voluntary revision
68.
- (1) If it appears to the directors of an open-ended investment company that any annual report of the company did not comply with the requirements of these Regulations or FSA rules, they may prepare a revised annual report.
(2) Where copies of the previous report have been laid before the company in general meeting or delivered to the Authority, the revisions must be confined to -
Auditors
69.
Schedule 5 makes provision with respect to the auditors of open-ended investment companies.
(2) The right of inspection extends to the originals of documents delivered to the Authority in legible form only where the record kept by the Authority of the contents of the document is illegible or unavailable.
(3) A copy of or extract from a record kept by the Authority under these Regulations, on which is endorsed a certificate signed by a member of the Authority's staff authorised by it for that purpose certifying that it is an accurate record of the contents of any document delivered to the Authority under these Regulations, is in all legal proceedings admissible in evidence as of equal validity with the original document and as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible.
(4) No process for compelling the production of a document kept by the Authority under these Regulations is to issue from any court except with the leave of the court; and any such process must bear on it a statement that it is issued with the leave of the court.
Provision by the Authority of documents in non-legible form
76.
Any requirement of these Regulations as to the supply by the Authority of a document may, if the Authority thinks fit, be satisfied by the communication by the Authority of the information in any non-legible form it thinks appropriate.
Public notice by the Authority of receipt and issue of certain documents
77.
The Authority must cause to be published in the Belfast Gazette notice of the issue or receipt by it of documents of any of the following descriptions (stating in the notice the name of the open-ended investment company, the description of the document and the date of issue of receipt) -
Exclusion of deemed notice
78.
A person is not to be taken to have deemed notice of any matter merely because of its being disclosed in any document kept by the Authority (and thus available for inspection) under any provision of these Regulations.
is to be treated as having contravened rules made under section 138 of the Act (general rule-making power).
Offences by bodies corporate etc.
80.
Section 400 of the Act (offences by bodies corporate etc.) applies to an offence under these Regulations as it applies to an offence under the Act.
Jurisdiction and procedure in respect of offences
81.
Section 403 of the Act (jurisdiction and procedure in respect of offences) applies to offences under these Regulations as it applies to offences under the Act.
Evidence of grant of probate etc.
82.
The production to a company of any document which is by law sufficient evidence of probate of the will, or letters of administration of the estate, or confirmation as executor, of a deceased person having been granted to some person must be accepted by the company as sufficient evidence of the grant.
Minor and consequential amendments
83.
The provisions mentioned in Schedule 7 shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule.
Revocation etc.
84.
- (1) The Open-Ended Investment Companies (Investment Companies with Variable Capital) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997[10] (the 1997 Regulations) are revoked.
(2) Anything done under or in accordance with the 1997 Regulations has effect as if done under or in accordance with these Regulations.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2) -
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on
10th August 2004.
L.S.
James McKeown
A senior officer of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
5.
- (1) Where the depositary of a company ceases, for any reason other than by virtue of a court order made under regulation 26, to hold office, it may deposit at the head office of the company a statement of any circumstances connected with its ceasing to hold office which it considers should be brought to the attention of the shareholders or creditors of the company or, if it considers that there are no such circumstances, a statement that there are none.
(2) If the statement is of circumstances which the depositary considers should be brought to the attention of the shareholders or creditors of the company, the company must, not later than 14 days after the deposit of the statement, either -
and, where an application is made under sub-paragraph (b), the company must notify the depositary.
(3) Unless the depositary receives notice of an application to the court before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which it deposited the statement, it must, not later than seven days after the end of that period, send a copy of the statement to the Authority.
(4) If the court is satisfied that the depositary is using the statement to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter -
and the company must, not later than 14 days after the court's decision, take such steps in relation to a statement setting out the effect of the order as are required by sub-paragraph (2)(a) in relation to the statement deposited under sub-paragraph (1).
(5) If the court is not so satisfied, the company must, not later than 14 days after the court's decision, take the steps required by sub-paragraph (2)(a) and notify the depositary of the court's decision.
(6) The depositary must, not later than seven days after receiving such a notice, send a copy of the statement to the Authority.
(7) Where a notice of appeal is filed not later than 14 days after the court's decision, any reference to that decision in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) is to be construed as a reference to the final determination or withdrawal of that appeal (as the case may be).
6.
- (1) This paragraph applies where copies of a statement have been sent to shareholders under paragraph 5.
(2) The depositary who made the statement has, notwithstanding that it has ceased to hold office, the rights conferred by paragraph 4(a) to (c) in relation to the general meeting of the company next following the date on which the copies were sent out.
(3) The reference in paragraph 4(c) to business concerning the depositary as depositary is to be construed in relation to a depositary who has ceased to hold office as a reference to business concerning it as former depositary.
2.
The statements referred to in paragraph 1(a) are -
3.
- (1) The instrument of incorporation must contain provision as to the following matters -
(2) The provision referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) as to the object of an open-ended investment company must state clearly the kind of property in which the company is to invest and must state that the object of the company is to invest in property of that kind with the aim of spreading investment risk and giving its shareholders the benefit of the results of the management of that property.
4.
- (1) The instrument of incorporation must also contain provision as to the following matters -
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c), the size at any time of a company's capital is to be taken to be the value at that time, as determined in accordance with FSA rules, of the scheme property of the company less the liabilities of the company.
5.
- (1) Once an authorisation order has been made in respect of a company, no amendment may be made to the statements contained in the company's instrument of incorporation which are required by paragraph 2.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (1) and to any restriction imposed by FSA rules, a company may amend any provision which is contained in its instrument of incorporation.
(3) No amendment to a provision which is contained in a company's instrument of incorporation by virtue of paragraph 3 may be made unless it has been approved by the shareholders of the company in general meeting.
6.
- (1) The provisions of a company's instrument of incorporation are binding on the officers and depositary of the company and on each of its shareholders; and all such persons (but no others) are to be taken to have notice of the provisions of the instrument.
(2) A person is not debarred from obtaining damages or other compensation from a company by reason only of his holding or having held shares in the company.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1), for the purposes of head (b), the designated person is to be taken as holding all shares in the company which are in issue and in respect of which no other person's name is entered on the register.
(3) The statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) must be up-dated at least once a day.
6.
- (1) This paragraph does not apply to any issue or transfer of shares to the designated person.
(2) Where a company issues a share to any person and the name of that person is not already entered on the register, the company must enter his name on the register.
(3) In respect of any person whose name is entered on the register in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) or paragraph 5 of Schedule 4, the register must contain an entry consisting of -
7.
The register of shareholders must contain a monthly statement of the aggregate number of all the bearer shares in issue except for any bearer shares in issue which, at the time when the statement is made, are held by the designated person.
8.
- (1) This paragraph applies where the aggregate number of shares referred to in paragraphs 5 to 7 includes any shares to which attach rights expressed in two denominations.
(2) In respect of each class of shares to which are attached rights expressed in two denominations, the number of shares of that class held by any person referred to in paragraph 5 or 6, or the number of bearer shares of that class referred to in paragraph 7, is to be taken to be the total of -
N | + | n |
p |
(4) Nothing in these Regulations is to be taken as preventing the total arrived at under sub-paragraph (2) being expressed on the register as a single entry representing the result derived from the formula set out in that sub-paragraph.
10.
- (1) Every company must keep an index of the names of the holders of its registered shares.
(2) The index must contain, in respect of each shareholder, a sufficient indication to enable the account of that shareholder in the register to be readily found.
(3) The index must be at all times kept at the same place as the register of shareholders.
(4) Not later than 14 days after the date on which any alteration is made to the register of shareholders, the company must make any necessary alteration in the index.
4.
- (1) Except in the case of any transfer of shares referred to in paragraph 3, the company may not register any transfer unless the transfer documents relating to that transfer have been delivered to the company.
(2) No share certificate has to be delivered by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) in any case where shares are transferred by a nominee of a recognised investment exchange who is designated for the purposes of regulation 47(5) in the rules of the investment exchange in question.
(3) In these Regulations "transfer documents", in relation to any transfer of registered shares, means -
5.
In the case of any transfer of shares which meets the requirements of paragraph 3 or 4, the company must -
6.
- (1) A company may, before the end of the period of 21 days commencing with the date of receipt of the transfer documents relating to any transfer of shares, refuse to register the transfer if -
(2) A company must give the transferee written notice of any refusal to register a transfer of shares.
(3) Nothing in these Regulations requires a company to register a transfer or give notice to any person of a refusal to register a transfer where registering the transfer or giving the notice would result in a contravention of any provision of law (including any law that is for the time being in force in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom).
7.
- (1) Where, in respect of any transfer of shares, the company certifies that it has received the transfer documents referred to in paragraph 4(3)(b) or (c) (as the case may be), that certification is to be taken as a representation by the company to any person acting on the faith of the certification that there has been produced to the company such evidence as on its face shows a prima facie title to the shares in the transferor named in the instrument of transfer.
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), a certification is made by a company if the instrument of transfer -
(3) A certification under sub-paragraph (1) is not to be taken as a representation that the transferor has any title to the shares in question.
(4) Where a person acts on the faith of a false certification by a company which is made negligently or fraudulently, the company is liable to pay to that person any damages sustained by him.
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), an auditor of a company is not to be regarded as an officer or employee of the company.
(3) The power of the Department to make regulations under Article 30 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (ineligibility on ground of lack of independence) in relation to the appointment of company auditors is to be exercisable in relation to the appointment of auditors of open-ended investment companies -
3.
- (1) No person is to act as auditor of a company if he is ineligible for appointment to the office.
(2) If during his term of office an auditor of a company becomes ineligible for appointment to the office, he must thereupon vacate office and give notice in writing to the company concerned that he has vacated it by reason of ineligibility.
(3) A person who acts as auditor of a company in contravention of sub-paragraph (1) or fails to give notice of vacating his office as required by sub-paragraph (2) is guilty of an offence and liable -
(4) In the case of continued contravention he is liable on a second or subsequent summary conviction (instead of the fine mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b)) to a fine not exceeding £100 in respect of each day on which the contravention is continued.
(5) In proceedings against a person for an offence under this paragraph it is a defence for him to show that he did not know and had no reason to believe that he was, or had become, ineligible for appointment.
(4) For this purpose a partnership is to be regarded as succeeding to the practice of another partnership only if the members of the successor partnership are substantially the same as those of the former partnership; and a partnership or other person is to be regarded as succeeding to the practice of a partnership only if it or he succeeds to the whole or substantially the whole of the business of the former partnership.
(5) Where the partnership ceases and no person succeeds to the appointment under sub-paragraph (3), the appointment may with the consent of the company be treated as extending to a partnership or other person eligible for the appointment who succeeds to the business of the former partnership or to such part of it as is agreed by the company to be treated as comprising the appointment.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (2) is liable -
9.
- (1) The auditors of a company are entitled -
(2) The right to attend and be heard at a meeting is exercisable in the case of a body corporate or partnership by an individual authorised by it in writing to act as its representative at the meeting.
(2) For the purposes of the exercise of the power to make regulations under Article 398B of the 1986 Order, as extended by sub-paragraph (1), the reference in Article 398B(3) to a note to a company's accounts is to be taken to be a reference to the annual report of an open-ended investment company.
is not effective unless notice of the intention to move it has been given to the open-ended investment company at least 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved.
(2) On receipt of notice of such an intended resolution, the company must forthwith send a copy to the person proposed to be removed or, as the case may be, to the person proposed to be appointed and to the retiring auditor.
(3) The auditor proposed to be removed or, as the case may be, the retiring auditor may make with respect to the intended resolution representations in writing to the company (not exceeding a reasonable length) and request their notification to the shareholders of the company.
(4) The company must (unless the representations are received by the company too late for it to do so) -
(5) If a copy of any such representations is not sent out as required because they were received too late or because of the company's default or if, for either of those reasons, any steps required by sub-paragraph (4)(c) or (d) are not taken, the auditor may (without prejudice to his right to be heard orally) require that the representations be read out at the meeting.
(6) Copies of the representations need not be sent out, the steps required by sub-paragraph (4)(c) or (d) need not be taken and the representations need not be read out at the meeting if, on the application of the company or any other person claiming to be aggrieved, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this paragraph are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the court may order the costs of the company on such an application to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.
14.
- (1) An auditor who has been removed from office has, notwithstanding his removal, the rights conferred by paragraph 9 in relation to any general meeting of the company at which his term of office would otherwise have expired or at which it is proposed to fill the vacancy caused by his removal.
(2) The reference in paragraph 9 to business concerning the auditors as auditors is to be construed in relation to an auditor who has been removed from office as a reference to business concerning him as former auditor.
and to take such steps as FSA rules may require for the purpose of bringing the fact that the statement has been made to the attention of the holders of any bearer shares.
(5) The company must (unless the statement is received by it too late for it to do so) -
(6) If a copy of the statement is not sent out or provided as required because it was received too late or because of the company's default the auditor may (without prejudice to his right to be heard orally) require that the statement be read out at the meeting.
(7) Copies of a statement need not be sent out or provided and the statement need not be read out at the meeting if, on the application of the company or any other person claiming to be aggrieved, the court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this paragraph are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the court may order the costs of the company on such an application to be paid in whole or in part by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.
17.
- (1) An auditor who has resigned has, notwithstanding his removal, the rights conferred by paragraph 9 in relation to any such general meeting of the company as is mentioned in paragraph 16(4)(a) or (b).
(2) The reference in paragraph 9 to business concerning the auditors as auditors is to be construed in relation to an auditor who has resigned as a reference to business concerning him as former auditor.
(3) If the statement is of circumstances which the auditor considers should be brought to the attention of shareholders or creditors of the company, the company must, not later than 14 days after the deposit of the statement, either -
and, where an application is made under sub-paragraph (b), the company must notify the auditor.
(4) Unless the auditor receives notice of an application to the court before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he deposited the statement, he must, not later than seven days after the end of that period, send a copy of the statement to the Authority.
(5) If the court is satisfied that the auditor is using the statement to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter -
and the company must, not later than 14 days after the court's decision, take such steps in relation to a statement setting out the effect of the order as are required by sub-paragraph (3)(a) in relation to the statement deposited under sub-paragraph (1).
(6) If the court is not so satisfied, the company must, not later than 14 days after the court's decision, send to each of the shareholders a copy of the auditor's statement and notify the auditor of the court's decision.
(7) The auditor must, not later than seven days after receiving such a notice, send a copy of the statement to the Authority.
(8) Where notice of appeal is filed not later than 14 days after the court's decision, any reference to that decision in sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) is to be construed as a reference to the final determination or withdrawal of that appeal, as the case may be.
19.
- (1) If a person ceasing to hold office as auditor fails to comply with paragraph 18 he is guilty of an offence and liable -
(2) In proceedings for an offence under sub-paragraph (1), it is a defence for the person charged to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.
20.
Section 249(1) of the Act (disqualification of auditor for breach of trust scheme rules) applies to a failure by an auditor to comply with a duty imposed on him by FSA rules as it applies to a breach of trust scheme rules with the modification that the reference to an authorised open-ended investment company includes an open-ended investment company within the meaning of these Regulations.
in each case with or without any cash payment to shareholders.
3.
A public company may apply to the court under Article 418 of the 1986 Order for an order sanctioning a scheme falling within head (b) or (c) of paragraph 4(1) where -
in each case with or without any cash payment to shareholders.
4.
- (1) The schemes falling within this paragraph are -
are to be transferred to an open-ended investment company formed for the purpose of, or in connection with, the scheme;
(c) any scheme under which the undertaking, property and liabilities of an open-ended investment company or a public company are to be divided among and transferred to two or more open-ended investment companies whether or not formed for the purpose of, or in connection with, the scheme.
(2) Nothing in this Schedule is to be taken as enabling the court to sanction a scheme under which the whole or any part of the undertaking, property or liabilities of an open-ended investment company may be transferred to any person other than another such company.
5.
For the purposes of this Schedule, Articles 418 to 420 of the 1986 Order are, subject to paragraph 6, to have effect in respect of any application made by virtue of paragraph 2 or 3 as they have effect in respect of applications falling within Article 420A(1) of that Order (that is to say, subject to the provisions of Article 420A of, and Schedule 15B to, that Order (mergers and divisions of public companies))[15].
6.
- (1) All the provisions of the 1986 Order referred to in paragraph 5 have effect with such modifications as are necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this Schedule.
(2) In particular, any reference in those provisions to a Case 1 Scheme, a Case 2 Scheme or a Case 3 Scheme is to be taken to be a reference to a scheme falling within head (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 4(1).
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1), the following references in those provisions have effect as follows, unless the context otherwise requires -
2.
- (1) Article 36 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 ("the 1986 Order") (prohibition on registration of certain names) is amended as follows.
(2) For sub-paragraph (bb) of paragraph (1)[18], substitute -
(3) In paragraph (3)(b), omit the word "and" after "public limited company" and at the end insert -
3.
- (1) Article 207(2A) of the 1986 Order[19] (interests to be disregarded in determining whether a person holds a material interest in shares) is amended as follows.
(2) In sub-paragraph (bb), for "investment company with variable capital" substitute "open-ended investment company".
(3) In sub-paragraph (d), for "(a), (b) or (c)" substitute "(a), (b), (bb) or (c)".
4.
In Article 217(1)(h) of the 1986 Order[20] (interests to be disregarded for purposes of obligation to disclose interests in shares) for head (iii) substitute -
5.
In Article 228(1) of the 1986 Order[21] (definitions for Part VII) omit the definition of "investment company with variable capital" and insert after the definition of "material interest" -
6.
In Article 667(2) of the 1986 Order (exemptions from application of Order to unregistered companies), for sub-paragraph (d)[22] substitute -
7.
In section 34(6)[23] of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (permitted forms for appropriate schemes), for paragraph (d) substitute -
8.
In Schedule 1 to the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (matters for determining unfitness of directors), for paragraph 6 substitute -
[3] S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6)back
[4] S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)back
[5] O.J. No. L375, 31.12.1985, p. 3-18, as last amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2001/107/EC (O.J. No. L41, 13.2.2002, p. 20-34) and European Parliament and Council Directive 2001/108/EC (O.J. No. L41, 13.2.2002, p. 35-42)back
[6] Article 257AA was inserted by the Companies (1986 Order) (Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, S.R. 2001 No. 153 and amended by S.I. 2001/3649back
[7] S.R. 1989 No. 216. The Regulations were modified by virtue of section 2(1) of the European Economic Area Act 1993 (c. 51) so that, for any limitation in the Regulations that proceeds by reference to the Communities, there is substituted a corresponding limitation relating to the European Economic Areaback
[8] Article 663 was amended by S.R. 1993 No. 198 and by paragraph 1 of Part I of the Schedule to the Limited Liability Partnerships Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (c. 12 (N.I.))back
[9] Article 104A was inserted by Article 8(3) of the Companies (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/1504 (N.I. 10)) and amended by section 79(14) of, and Part II of Schedule 6 to, the Criminal Justice Act 1993 (c. 36) and S.I. 2001/3649back
[12] S.I. 1990/593 (N.I. 5)back
[13] Article 398B was inserted into the 1986 Order by Article 56 of the Companies (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/1504 (N.I. 10))back
[14] Article 418 was amended by Article 381 of, and paragraph 16 of Schedule 9 to, the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989back
[15] Article 420A of, and Schedule 15A to, the 1986 Order were inserted by the Companies (Mergers and Divisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 442) and amended by Article 49(2) of the Companies (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990back
[16] Article 113 was amended by Article 381 of, and paragraph 5 of Part I of Schedule 9 to, the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989back
[17] Paragraph (f) of section 1(4) was inserted by S.R. 1997 No. 251back
[18] Article 36(1)(bb) was inserted by S.R. 1997 No. 251back
[19] Article 207(2A) was inserted by S.R. 1994 No. 2 and amended by S.R. 1997 No. 251 and S.I. 2001/3649back
[20] Article 217 was substituted by S.R. 1994 No. 2 and amended by S.R. 1997 No. 251back
[21] Article 228(1) was substituted by S.R. 1994 No. 2 and amended by S.R. 1997 No. 251 and S.I. 2001/3649back
[22] Article 667(2)(d) was inserted by S.R. 1997 No. 251back
[23] Section 34(6)(d) was inserted by S.R. 1997 No. 251back