Schedule 4 — Documents and information sent or supplied to a company

Part 1— Introduction

paragraphs 1

Paragraph 1— Application of Schedule

1.
This Schedule applies to documents or information sent or supplied to a company.
2.
It does not apply to documents or information sent or supplied by another company (see section 1144(3) and Schedule 5).

Part 2— Communications in hard copy form

paragraphs 2–4

Paragraph 2— Introduction

A document or information is validly sent or supplied to a company if it is sent or supplied in hard copy form in accordance with this Part of this Schedule.

Paragraph 3— Method of communication in hard copy form

1.
A document or information in hard copy form may be sent or supplied by hand or by post to an address (in accordance with paragraph 4).
2.
For the purposes of this Schedule, a person sends a document or information by post if he posts a prepaid envelope containing the document or information.

Paragraph 4— Address for communications in hard copy form

A document or information in hard copy form may be sent or supplied—

(a)
to an address specified by the company for the purpose;
(b)
to the company's registered office;
(c)
to an address to which any provision of the Companies Acts authorises the document or information to be sent or supplied.

Part 2A— Communications in electronic form from the registrar or the Secretary of State

paragraphs 4A

Paragraph 4A

1.
A document or information is validly sent or supplied to a company by the registrar or the Secretary of State if it is sent or supplied in electronic form in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) or (3).
2.
Where the document or information is sent or supplied by electronic means it may only be sent—
1. (a)
  in the case of a company registered under this Act, to the company’s registered email address;
2. (b)
  in the case of any company, to an address specified by the company for that purpose (generally or specifically).
3.
Where the document or information is sent or supplied in electronic form by hand or by post, it must be sent or supplied to an address to which it could be validly sent if it were in hard copy form.

Part 3— Communications in electronic form in other cases

paragraphs 5–7

Paragraph 5— Introduction

A document or information is validly sent or supplied to a company by a person other than the registrar or the Secretary of State if it is sent or supplied in electronic form in accordance with this Part of this Schedule.

Paragraph 6— Conditions for use of communications in electronic form

A document or information may only be sent or supplied to a company in electronic form if—

(a)
the company has agreed (generally or specifically) that the document or information may be sent or supplied in that form (and has not revoked that agreement), or
(b)
the company is deemed to have so agreed by a provision in the Companies Acts.

Paragraph 7— Address for communications in electronic form

1.
Where the document or information is sent or supplied by electronic means, it may only be sent or supplied to an address—
1. (a)
  specified for the purpose by the company (generally or specifically), or
2. (b)
  deemed by a provision in the Companies Acts to have been so specified.
2.
Where the document or information is sent or supplied in electronic form by hand or by post, it must be sent or supplied to an address to which it could be validly sent if it were in hard copy form.

Part 4— Other agreed forms of communication

paragraphs 8

Paragraph 8

A document or information that is sent or supplied to a company otherwise than in hard copy form or electronic form is validly sent or supplied if it is sent or supplied in a form or manner that has been agreed by the company.

Schedule 4— Documents and information sent or supplied to a company