2006 c. 46

Part 8— A company's members

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Sections 112–144

Chapter 1— The members of a company

Sections 112

Section 112— The members of a company

1.
The subscribers of a company's memorandum are deemed to have agreed to become members of the company, and on its registration become members and must be entered as such in its register of members.
2.
Every other person who agrees to become a member of a company, and whose name is entered in its register of members, is a member of the company.
3.
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4.
Where an individual’s name is entered in a company’s register of members but is not in the form required by section 113A, that does not affect the person becoming a member of the company by virtue of subsection (2).

Chapter 2— Register of members

Sections 112A–128ZA

Duty to keep register

Section 112A— Alternative method of record-keeping

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Section 113— Register of members

1.
Every company must keep a register of its members.
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2.
There must be entered in the register, in respect of each person who is a member—
1. (a)
  the required information (see sections 113A and 113B), and
2. (b)
  the date on which the person was registered as a member.
2A.
Where a person ceases to be a member there must be entered in the register the date at which the person’s membership ceased.
3.
In the case of a company having a share capital, there must be entered in the register a statement of—
1. (a)
  the shares held by each member, distinguishing each share—
  (i)
  by its number (so long as the share has a number), and
  (ii)
  where the company has more than one class of issued shares, by its class, and
2. (b)
  the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on the shares of each member.
4.
If the company has converted any of its shares into stock, and given notice of the conversion to the registrar, the register of members must show the amount and class of stock held by each member instead of the amount of shares and the particulars relating to shares specified above.
5.
In the case of joint holders of shares or stock in a company, the company's register of members must state the names of each joint holder. In other respects joint holders are regarded for the purposes of this Chapter as a single member (so that the register must show a single service address).
6.
In the case of a company that does not have a share capital but has more than one class of members, there must be entered in the register a statement of the class to which each member belongs.
6A.
Where any of the information required to be entered in a company’s register of members changes and, at the time of the change, it is a non-traded company—
1. (a)
  the fact that the information has changed does not relieve the company from the obligation to include the old information in the register if it has not already done so,
2. (b)
  the old information must be retained in the register until its removal is authorised by section 121 or by court order under section 125, and
3. (c)
  a note must be included in the register recording the date on which the information changed and the date on which the change was entered in the register.
6B.
Where any of the information required to be entered in a company’s register of members changes and, at the time of the change, it is a traded company, the company is not required to include or retain the old information in the register.
6C.
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
1. (a)
  amend subsection (6A) so as to provide for it to apply in relation to traded companies, and
2. (b)
  repeal subsection (6B) in consequence.
6D.
Regulations under subsection (6C) are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.
7.
If , without reasonable excuse, a company makes default in complying with this section an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
8.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
9.
In this section— “non-traded company” means a company that is not a traded company; “relevant market” has the meaning given by section 853E(6); “traded company” means a company any of whose shares are admitted to trading on a relevant market or on any other market which is outside the United Kingdom.

Section 113A— Required information about members: individuals

1.
The required information about a member who is an individual is—
1. (a)
  name;
2. (b)
  a service address.
2.
In this section “name” means forename and surname.
3.
Where a member is a peer or an individual usually known by a title—
1. (a)
  any requirement imposed by section 113D or 113E, or by a notice under section 113F, to provide their name may be satisfied by providing their title instead;
2. (b)
  the title may be entered in the register of members instead of their forename and surname (and references in any enactment to the name of a person entered in a company’s register of members are to be construed accordingly).

Section 113B— Required information about members: corporate members and firms

The required information about a member that is a body corporate, or a firm that is a legal person under the law by which it is governed, is—

(a)
corporate or firm name;
(b)
a service address.

Section 113C— Power to amend the required information

1.
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
1. (a)
  make provision changing the required information about a member for the purposes of this Chapter;
2. (b)
  repeal section 113A(3).
2.
The provision that may be made in regulations under subsection (1)(a) includes provision amending this Chapter.
3.
The consequential provision that may be made in regulations under subsection (1)(a) by virtue of section 1292(1) also includes provision amending section 50 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
4.
Regulations under subsection (1) are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

Section 113D— Duty on new members to notify required information

1.
A person who becomes a member of a company must provide the company with the required information about the member (see sections 113A and 113B).
2.
Subsection (1) does not apply if or to the extent that—
1. (a)
  the person has already provided the information to the company, or
2. (b)
  the person becomes a member of the company on its incorporation and the information is contained in the application for the registration of the company.
3.
A person must comply with this section within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the person became a member.

Section 113E— Duty on member to notify changes to required information

1.
A person who is a member of a company must give notice to the company of any change in the required information about the member (see sections 113A and 113B).
2.
The notice must specify the date on which the change occurred.
3.
A person must comply with this section within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the change occurred.

Section 113F— Power for company to require information from members

1.
A company may, for the purposes of ensuring that its register of members includes the information that it is required to include, require a member or former member of the company to provide any of the required information about the member or former member (see sections 113A and 113B).
2.
The notice must require the recipient to comply with it within the period of one month beginning with the date on which the notice is given.

Section 113G— Failure to comply with section 113D, 113E or 113F

1.
A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with section 113D or 113E commits an offence.
2.
A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a notice under section 113F commits an offence.
3.
Where an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is committed by a firm, the offence is also committed by every officer of the firm who is in default.
4.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
1. (a)
  on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both);
2. (b)
  on summary conviction—
  (i)
  in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);
  (ii)
  in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both) and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-fifth of the statutory maximum;
  (iii)
  in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both) and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-fifth of the statutory maximum.

Section 113H— Basic false statement offences in connection with sections 113D to 113F

1.
A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance with section 113D or 113E and without reasonable excuse, the person makes a statement that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
2.
A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance with a notice under section 113F and without reasonable excuse, the person makes a statement that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
3.
Where an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is committed by a firm, the offence is also committed by every officer of the firm who is in default.
4.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
1. (a)
  on summary conviction in England and Wales, to a fine;
2. (b)
  on summary conviction in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;
3. (c)
  on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Section 113I— Aggravated false statement offences in connection with sections 113D to 113F

1.
A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance with section 113D or 113E, the person makes a statement that the person knows to be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
2.
A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance with a notice under section 113F, the person makes a statement that the person knows to be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
3.
Where an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is committed by a firm, the offence is also committed by every officer of the firm who is in default.
4.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
1. (a)
  on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both);
2. (b)
  on summary conviction—
  (i)
  in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);
  (ii)
  in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both) and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-fifth of the statutory maximum;
  (iii)
  in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both) and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-fifth of the statutory maximum.

Duty to keep index of members

Section 113J— Index of members

1.
Every company having more than 50 members must keep an index of the names or titles of the members of the company (to be known as “the index of members’ names”), unless the register of members is in such a form as to constitute in itself an index.
2.
The company must make any necessary alteration in the index within 14 days after the date on which any alteration is made in the register of members.
3.
The index must include the same details of a person’s name or title as are entered in the register of members.
4.
The index must be at all times kept available for inspection at the same place as the register of members.
4A.
Subsection (4) is subject to any restriction imposed by regulations under section 120A (protected material).
5.
If default is made in complying with this section, an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
6.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Inspection etc of register and index of members

Section 114— Register to be kept available for inspection

1.
A company's register of members must be kept available for inspection—
1. (a)
  at its registered office, or
2. (b)
  at a place specified in regulations under section 1136.
This is subject to any restriction imposed by regulations under section 120A (protected material).
2.
A company must give notice to the registrar of the place where its register of members is kept available for inspection and of any change in that place.
3.
No such notice is required if the register has, at all times since it came into existence (or, in the case of a register in existence on the relevant date, at all times since then) been kept available for inspection at the company's registered office.
4.
The relevant date for the purposes of subsection (3) is—
1. (a)
  1st July 1948 in the case of a company registered in Great Britain, and
2. (b)
  1st April 1961 in the case of a company registered in Northern Ireland.
5.
If a company makes default for 14 days in complying with subsection (2), an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
6.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Index of members

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Section 116— Rights to inspect and require copies

1.
The register and the index of members' names must be open to the inspection—
1. (a)
  of any member of the company without charge, and
2. (b)
  of any other person on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
2.
Any person may require a copy of a company's register of members, or of any part of it, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
2A.
Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to any restriction imposed by regulations under section 120A (protected material).
3.
A person seeking to exercise either of the rights conferred by this section must make a request to the company to that effect.
4.
The request must contain the following information—
1. (a)
  in the case of an individual, his name and address;
2. (b)
  in the case of an organisation, the name and address of an individual responsible for making the request on behalf of the organisation;
3. (c)
  the purpose for which the information is to be used; and
4. (d)
  whether the information will be disclosed to any other person, and if so—
  (i)
  where that person is an individual, his name and address,
  (ii)
  where that person is an organisation, the name and address of an individual responsible for receiving the information on its behalf, and
  (iii)
  the purpose for which the information is to be used by that person.

Section 117— Register of members: response to request for inspection or copy

1.
Where a company receives a request under section 116 (register of members: right to inspect and require copy), it must within five working days either—
1. (a)
  comply with the request, or
2. (b)
  apply to the court.
2.
If it applies to the court it must notify the person making the request.
3.
If on an application under this section the court is satisfied that the inspection or copy is not sought for a proper purpose—
1. (a)
  it shall direct the company not to comply with the request, and
2. (b)
  it may further order that the company's costs (in Scotland, expenses) on the application be paid in whole or in part by the person who made the request, even if he is not a party to the application.
4.
If the court makes such a direction and it appears to the court that the company is or may be subject to other requests made for a similar purpose (whether made by the same person or different persons), it may direct that the company is not to comply with any such request. The order must contain such provision as appears to the court appropriate to identify the requests to which it applies.
5.
If on an application under this section the court does not direct the company not to comply with the request, the company must comply with the request immediately upon the court giving its decision or, as the case may be, the proceedings being discontinued.

Section 118— Register of members: refusal of inspection or default in providing copy

1.
If an inspection required under section 116 (register of members: right to inspect and require copy) is refused or default is made in providing a copy required under that section, otherwise than in accordance with an order of the court, an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
2.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
3.
In the case of any such refusal or default the court may by order compel an immediate inspection or, as the case may be, direct that the copy required be sent to the person requesting it.

Section 119— Register of members: offences in connection with request for or disclosure of information

1.
It is an offence for a person knowingly or recklessly to make in a request under section 116 (register of members: right to inspect or require copy) a statement that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.
2.
It is an offence for a person in possession of information obtained by exercise of either of the rights conferred by that section—
1. (a)
  to do anything that results in the information being disclosed to another person, or
2. (b)
  to fail to do anything with the result that the information is disclosed to another person,
knowing, or having reason to suspect, that person may use the information for a purpose that is not a proper purpose.
3.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
1. (a)
  on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both);
2. (b)
  on summary conviction—
  (i)
  in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
  (ii)
  in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).

Section 120— Information as to state of register and index

1.
When a person inspects the register, or the company provides him with a copy of the register or any part of it, the company must inform him of the most recent date (if any) on which alterations were made to the register and whether there are further alterations to be made.
2.
When a person inspects the index of members' names, the company must inform him whether there is any alteration to the register that is not reflected in the index.
2A.
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to an alteration that relates to information that the company is required to refrain from disclosing by virtue of regulations under section 120A (protected material).
3.
If a company fails to provide the information required under subsection (1) or (2), an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
4.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Section 120A— Power to make regulations protecting material

1.
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
1. (a)
  require a company to refrain from using, or refrain from disclosing, individual membership information except in circumstances specified in the regulations;
2. (b)
  confer power on the registrar, on application, to make an order requiring a company to refrain from using, or refrain from disclosing, individual membership information except in circumstances specified in the regulations.
2.
“Individual membership information” means information that—
1. (a)
  relates to an individual who is a member or former member of the company, and
2. (b)
  is required to be entered in the company’s register of members or index of members’ names.
3.
Regulations under subsection (1)(b) may make provision as to—
1. (a)
  who may make an application;
2. (b)
  the grounds on which an application may be made;
3. (c)
  the information to be included in and documents to accompany an application;
4. (d)
  how an application is to be determined;
5. (e)
  the notice to be given of an application and its outcome;
6. (f)
  the duration of and procedures for revoking the restrictions on use and disclosure.
4.
Provision under subsection (3) may in particular—
1. (a)
  confer a discretion on the registrar;
2. (b)
  provide for a question to be referred to a person other than the registrar for the purposes of determining the application or revoking the restrictions.
5.
Regulations under this section are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.
6.
Nothing in this section or in regulations made under it affects the use or disclosure of information about a person in any other capacity (for example, the use or disclosure of information about a person in that person’s capacity as an officer of the company).

Section 120B— Offence of failing to comply with regulations under section 120A

1.
If a company contravenes a restriction on the use or disclosure of information imposed by virtue of regulations under section 120A, an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
2.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—
1. (a)
  in England and Wales, to a fine;
2. (b)
  in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the standard scale.

Removal of entries from register of members

Section 121— Removal of entries relating to former members

An entry relating to a former member of the company may be removed from the register after the expiration of ten years from the date on which he ceased to be a member.

Special cases

Section 122— Share warrants

1.
Until a share warrant issued by a company is surrendered the following are deemed to be the particulars required to be entered in the register of members in respect of the warrant—
1. (a)
  the fact of the issue of the warrant,
2. (b)
  a statement of the shares included in the warrant, distinguishing each share by its number so long as the share has a number, and
3. (c)
  the date of the issue of the warrant.
3.
The bearer of a share warrant may, if the articles of the company so provide, be deemed a member of the company within the meaning of this Act, either to the full extent or for any purposes defined in the articles.
4.
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5.
The company is responsible for any loss incurred by any person by reason of the company entering in the register the name of a bearer of a share warrant in respect of the shares specified in it without the warrant being surrendered and cancelled.
6.
On the surrender of a share warrant, the date of the surrender must be entered in the register.

Section 123— Single member companies

1.
If a limited company is formed under this Act with only one member there shall be entered in the company's register of members a statement that the company has only one member.
2.
If the number of members of a limited company falls to one, or if an unlimited company with only one member becomes a limited company on re-registration, there shall upon the occurrence of that event be entered in the company's register of members —
1. (a)
  a statement that the company has only one member, and
2. (b)
  the date on which the company became a company having only one member.
3.
If the membership of a limited company increases from one to two or more members, there shall upon the occurrence of that event be entered in the company's register of members —
1. (a)
  a statement that the company has ceased to have only one member, and
2. (b)
  the date on which that event occurred.
4.
If a company makes default in complying with this section, an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
5.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Section 124— Company holding its own shares as treasury shares

1.
Where a company purchases its own shares in circumstances in which section 724 (treasury shares) applies—
1. (a)
  the requirements of section 113 (register of members) need not be complied with if the company cancels all of the shares forthwith after the purchase, and
2. (b)
  if the company does not cancel all of the shares forthwith after the purchase, any share that is so cancelled shall be disregarded for the purposes of that section.
2.
Subject to subsection (1), where a company holds shares as treasury shares the company must be entered in the register as the member holding those shares.

Supplementary

Section 125— Power of court to rectify register

1.
If a company’s register of members—
1. (a)
  does not include information that it is required to include, or
2. (b)
  includes information that it is not required to include,
the person aggrieved, or any member of the company, or the company, may apply to the court for rectification of the register.
2.
The court may either refuse the application or may order rectification of the register and payment by the company of any damages sustained by any party aggrieved.
3.
On such an application the court may decide any question relating to the title 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 between members or alleged members, or between members or alleged members on the one hand and the company on the other hand, and generally may decide any question necessary or expedient to be decided for rectification of the register.
4.
In the case of a company required by this Act to send a list of its members to the registrar of companies, the court, when making an order for rectification of the register, shall by its order direct notice of the rectification to be given to the registrar.

Section 126— Trusts not to be entered on register

No notice of any trust, expressed, implied or constructive, shall be entered on the register of members of a company registered in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or be receivable by the registrar.

Section 127— Register to be evidence

1.
The register of members is prima facie evidence of any matters which are by this Act directed or authorised to be inserted in it , except for any matters of which the central register is prima facie evidence by virtue of subsection (2).
2.
The central register is prima facie evidence of any matters about which a company was required to deliver information to the registrar under Chapter 2A by virtue of an election under section 128B at any time before the repeal of that Chapter (including that section) by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
3.
Subsection (2) does not apply to information required to be included in a statement under section 128B(5)(b) or in any updated statement under section 128B(6) before their repeal by that Act.
4.
In this section “the central register” means the register kept by the registrar (see section 1080).

Section 128— Time limit for claims arising from entry in register

1.
Liability incurred by a company—
1. (a)
  from the making or deletion of an entry in the register of members, or
2. (b)
  from a failure to make or delete any such entry,
is not enforceable more than ten years after the date on which the entry was made or deleted or, as the case may be, the failure first occurred.
2.
This is without prejudice to any lesser period of limitation (and, in Scotland, to any rule that the obligation giving rise to the liability prescribes before the expiry of that period).

Section 128ZA— Transitional provision where information kept on central register

1.
Where an election is made under section 128B (option to keep information on central register) at any time before the repeal of that section by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023—
1. (a)
  the company must enter in its register of members all of the information that it would have had to enter in that register if the election had never been made (but see subsection (2)), and
2. (b)
  the duty imposed by paragraph (a) is to be treated as having been imposed by the provision which would have required the information to be entered on the register if the election had never been made.
2.
Where, by virtue of section 128E(3)(a), (b) or (c), information delivered to the registrar while the election was in force did not include a date that, but for the election, the company would have had to enter in its register of members (a “relevant date”), the relevant date is to be treated as being the date recorded by the registrar under section 1081(1A).

Chapter 2A— Option to keep information on central register

Sections 128A–128K

Section 128A— Introduction

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Section 128B— Right to make an election

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Section 128C— Effective date of election

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Section 128D— Effect of election on obligations under Chapter 2

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Section 128E— Duty to notify registrar of changes

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Section 128F— Information as to state of central register

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Section 128G— Power of court to order company to remedy default or delay

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Section 128H— Central register to be evidence

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Section 128I— Time limits for claims arising from delivery to registrar

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Section 128J— Withdrawing the election

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Section 128K— Power to extend option to public companies

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Chapter 3— Overseas branch registers

Sections 129–135

Section 129— Overseas branch registers

1.
A company having a share capital may, if it transacts business in a country or territory to which this Chapter applies, cause to be kept there a branch register of members resident there (an “overseas branch register”).

This Chapter applies to—

(a)
any part of Her Majesty's dominions outside the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and

(b)

the countries or territories listed below.

Bangladesh	Malaysia
Cyprus	Malta
Dominica	Nigeria
The Gambia	Pakistan
Ghana	Seychelles
Guyana	Sierra Leone
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China	Singapore
India	South Africa
Ireland	Sri Lanka
Kenya	Swaziland
Kiribati	Trinidad and Tobago
Lesotho	Uganda
Malawi	Zimbabwe

3.
The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the circumstances in which a company is to be regarded as keeping a register in a particular country or territory.
4.
Regulations under this section are subject to negative resolution procedure.
5.
References—
1. (a)
  in any Act or instrument (including, in particular, a company's articles) to a dominion register, or
2. (b)
  in articles registered before 1st November 1929 to a colonial register,
are to be read (unless the context otherwise requires) as a reference to an overseas branch register kept under this section.
6.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 130— Notice of opening of overseas branch register

1.
A company that begins to keep an overseas branch register must give notice to the registrar within 14 days of doing so, stating the country or territory in which the register is kept.
2.
If default is made in complying with subsection (1), an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
3.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Section 131— Keeping of overseas branch register

1.
An overseas branch register is regarded as part of the company's register of members (“the main register”).
2.
The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations modifying any provision of Chapter 2 (register of members) as it applies in relation to an overseas branch register.
3.
Regulations under this section are subject to negative resolution procedure.
4.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a company may by its articles make such provision as it thinks fit as to the keeping of overseas branch registers.

Section 132— Register or duplicate to be kept available for inspection in UK

1.
A company that keeps an overseas branch register must keep available for inspection—
1. (a)
  the register, or
2. (b)
  a duplicate of the register duly entered up from time to time,
at the place in the United Kingdom where the company's main register is kept available for inspection.
2.
Any such duplicate is treated for all purposes of this Act as part of the main register.
3.
If default is made in complying with subsection (1), an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
4.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Section 133— Transactions in shares registered in overseas branch register

1.
Shares registered in an overseas branch register must be distinguished from those registered in the main register.
2.
No transaction with respect to shares registered in an overseas branch register may be registered in any other register.
3.
An instrument of transfer of a share registered in an overseas branch register—
1. (a)
  is regarded as a transfer of property situated outside the United Kingdom, and
2. (b)
  unless executed in a part of the United Kingdom, is exempt from stamp duty.

Section 134— Jurisdiction of local courts

1.
A competent court in a country or territory where an overseas branch register is kept may exercise the same jurisdiction as is exercisable by a court in the United Kingdom—
1. (a)
  to rectify the register (see section 125), or
2. (b)
  in relation to a request for inspection or a copy of the register (see section 117).
2.
The offences—
1. (a)
  of refusing inspection or failing to provide a copy of the register (see section 118), and
2. (b)
  of making a false, misleading or deceptive statement in a request for inspection or a copy (see section 119),
may be prosecuted summarily before any tribunal having summary criminal jurisdiction in the country or territory where the register is kept.
3.
This section extends only to those countries and territories to which paragraph 3 of Schedule 14 to the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) (which made similar provision) extended immediately before the coming into force of this Chapter.

Section 135— Discontinuance of overseas branch register

1.
A company may discontinue an overseas branch register.
2.
If it does so all the entries in that register must be transferred—
1. (a)
  to some other overseas branch register kept in the same country or territory, or
2. (b)
  to the main register.
3.
The company must give notice to the registrar within 14 days of the discontinuance.
4.
If default is made in complying with subsection (3), an offence is committed by—
1. (a)
  the company, and
2. (b)
  every officer of the company who is in default.
5.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.

Chapter 4— Prohibition on subsidiary being member of its holding company

Sections 136–144

General prohibition

Section 136— Prohibition on subsidiary being a member of its holding company

1.
Except as provided by this Chapter—
1. (a)
  a body corporate cannot be a member of a company that is its holding company, and
2. (b)
  any allotment or transfer of shares in a company to its subsidiary is void.
2.
The exceptions are provided for in— section 138 (subsidiary acting as personal representative or trustee), and section 141 (subsidiary acting as authorised dealer in securities).

Section 137— Shares acquired before prohibition became applicable

1.
Where a body corporate became a holder of shares in a company—
1. (a)
  before the relevant date, or
2. (b)
  on or after that date and before the commencement of this Chapter in circumstances in which the prohibition in section 23(1) of the Companies Act 1985 or Article 33(1) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6)) (or any corresponding earlier enactment), as it then had effect, did not apply, or
3. (c)
  on or after the commencement of this Chapter in circumstances in which the prohibition in section 136 did not apply,
it may continue to be a member of the company.
2.
The relevant date for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) is—
1. (a)
  1st July 1948 in the case of a company registered in Great Britain, and
2. (b)
  1st April 1961 in the case of a company registered in Northern Ireland.
3.
So long as it is permitted to continue as a member of a company by virtue of this section, an allotment to it of fully paid shares in the company may be validly made by way of capitalisation of reserves of the company.
4.
But, so long as the prohibition in section 136 would (apart from this section) apply, it has no right to vote in respect of the shares mentioned in subsection (1) above, or any shares allotted as mentioned in subsection (3) above, on a written resolution or at meetings of the company or of any class of its members.

Subsidiary acting as personal representative or trustee

Section 138— Subsidiary acting as personal representative or trustee

1.
The prohibition in section 136 (prohibition on subsidiary being a member of its holding company) does not apply where the subsidiary is concerned only—
1. (a)
  as personal representative, or
2. (b)
  as trustee,
unless, in the latter case, the holding company or a subsidiary of it is beneficially interested under the trust.
2.
For the purpose of ascertaining whether the holding company or a subsidiary is so interested, there shall be disregarded—
1. (a)
  any interest held only by way of security for the purposes of a transaction entered into by the holding company or subsidiary in the ordinary course of a business that includes the lending of money;
2. (b)
  any interest within— section 139 (interests to be disregarded: residual interest under pension scheme or employees' share scheme), or section 140 (interests to be disregarded: employer's rights of recovery under pension scheme or employees' share scheme);
3. (c)
  any rights that the company or subsidiary has in its capacity as trustee, including in particular—
  (i)
  any right to recover its expenses or be remunerated out of the trust property, and
  (ii)
  any right to be indemnified out of the trust property for any liability incurred by reason of any act or omission in the performance of its duties as trustee.

Section 139— Interests to be disregarded: residual interest under pension scheme or employees' share scheme

1.
Where shares in a company are held on trust for the purposes of a pension scheme or employees' share scheme, there shall be disregarded for the purposes of section 138 any residual interest that has not vested in possession.
2.
A “residual interest” means a right of the company or subsidiary (“the residual beneficiary”) to receive any of the trust property in the event of—
1. (a)
  all the liabilities arising under the scheme having been satisfied or provided for, or
2. (b)
  the residual beneficiary ceasing to participate in the scheme, or
3. (c)
  the trust property at any time exceeding what is necessary for satisfying the liabilities arising or expected to arise under the scheme.
3.
In subsection (2)—
1. (a)
  the reference to a right includes a right dependent on the exercise of a discretion vested by the scheme in the trustee or another person, and
2. (b)
  the reference to liabilities arising under a scheme includes liabilities that have resulted, or may result, from the exercise of any such discretion.
4.
For the purposes of this section a residual interest vests in possession—
1. (a)
  in a case within subsection (2)(a), on the occurrence of the event mentioned there (whether or not the amount of the property receivable pursuant to the right is ascertained);
2. (b)
  in a case within subsection (2)(b) or (c), when the residual beneficiary becomes entitled to require the trustee to transfer to him any of the property receivable pursuant to the right.
5.
In this section “pension scheme” means a scheme for the provision of benefits consisting of or including relevant benefits for or in respect of employees or former employees.
6.
In subsection (5)—
1. (a)
  “relevant benefits” means any pension, lump sum, gratuity or other like benefit given or to be given on retirement or on death or in anticipation of retirement or, in connection with past service, after retirement or death; and
2. (b)
  “employee” shall be read as if a director of a company were employed by it.

Section 140— Interests to be disregarded: employer's rights of recovery under pension scheme or employees' share scheme

1.
Where shares in a company are held on trust for the purposes of a pension scheme or employees' share scheme, there shall be disregarded for the purposes of section 138 any charge or lien on, or set-off against, any benefit or other right or interest under the scheme for the purpose of enabling the employer or former employer of a member of the scheme to obtain the discharge of a monetary obligation due to him from the member.
2.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.
In this section “pension scheme” means a scheme for the provision of benefits consisting of or including relevant benefits for or in respect of employees or former employees.
4.
In this section “employer” and “employee” shall be read as if a director of a company were employed by it.

“Relevant benefits” here means any pension, lump sum, gratuity or other like benefit given or to be given on retirement or on death or in anticipation of retirement or, in connection with past service, after retirement or death.

Subsidiary acting as dealer in securities

Section 141— Subsidiary acting as authorised dealer in securities

1.
The prohibition in section 136 (prohibition on subsidiary being a member of its holding company) does not apply where the shares are held by the subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business as an intermediary.
2.
For this purpose a person is an intermediary if he—
1. (a)
  carries on a bona fide business of dealing in securities,
2. (b)
  is a member of or has access to a UK regulated market, and
3. (c)
  does not carry on an excluded business.
3.
The following are excluded businesses—
1. (a)
  a business that consists wholly or mainly in the making or managing of investments;
2. (b)
  a business that consists wholly or mainly in, or is carried on wholly or mainly for the purposes of, providing services to persons who are connected with the person carrying on the business;
3. (c)
  a business that consists in insurance business;
4. (d)
  a business that consists in managing or acting as trustee in relation to a pension scheme, or that is carried on by the manager or trustee of such a scheme in connection with or for the purposes of the scheme;
5. (e)
  a business that consists in operating or acting as trustee in relation to a collective investment scheme, or that is carried on by the operator or trustee of such a scheme in connection with and for the purposes of the scheme.
4.
For the purposes of this section—
1. (a)
  the question whether a person is connected with another shall be determined in accordance with section 1122 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010;
2. (b)
  “collective investment scheme” has the meaning given in section 235 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8);
3. (c)
  “insurance business” means business that consists in the effecting or carrying out of contracts of insurance;
4. (d)
  “securities” includes—
  (i)
  options,
  (ii)
  futures, and
  (iii)
  contracts for differences,
  and rights or interests in those investments;
5. (e)
  “trustee” and “the operator” in relation to a collective investment scheme shall be construed in accordance with section 237(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8).
5.
Expressions used in this section that are also used in the provisions regulating activities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 have the same meaning here as they do in those provisions. See section 22 of that Act, orders made under that section and Schedule 2 to that Act.

Section 142— Protection of third parties in other cases where subsidiary acting as dealer in securities

1.
This section applies where—
1. (a)
  a subsidiary that is a dealer in securities has purportedly acquired shares in its holding company in contravention of the prohibition in section 136, and
2. (b)
  a person acting in good faith has agreed, for value and without notice of the contravention, to acquire shares in the holding company—
  (i)
  from the subsidiary, or
  (ii)
  from someone who has purportedly acquired the shares after their disposal by the subsidiary.
2.
A transfer to that person of the shares mentioned in subsection (1)(a) has the same effect as it would have had if their original acquisition by the subsidiary had not been in contravention of the prohibition.

Supplementary

Section 143— Application of provisions to companies not limited by shares

In relation to a company other than a company limited by shares, the references in this Chapter to shares shall be read as references to the interest of its members as such, whatever the form of that interest.

Section 144— Application of provisions to nominees

The provisions of this Chapter apply to a nominee acting on behalf of a subsidiary as to the subsidiary itself.