Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013
In short
This law, the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013, amends various existing company laws. It primarily focuses on court jurisdiction for company examinerships, the submission of company accounts and reports, and the powers of corporate enforcement officers.
What it regulates
- The jurisdiction of courts (High Court and Circuit Court) in company examinerships.
- The format and certification requirements for copies of company accounts, auditor reports, and directors' reports submitted to the registrar.
- The duties and powers of designated officers in relation to search warrants.
- The disclosure of information to the Director of Corporate Enforcement or their officers.
Who it concerns
- Companies, particularly those undergoing examinership or required to submit accounts and reports.
- Designated officers involved in corporate enforcement.
- Statutory auditors and audit firms.
Key points
- The Circuit Court can now handle examinerships for "small companies" as defined by the Companies (Amendment) Act 1986.
- Copies of documents submitted must be true copies, with signatures and dates appearing in typeset form, and accompanied by a certificate from a director and the company secretary.
- The Act amends the Companies (Amendment) Act 1990, the Companies (Amendment) Act 1986, the Companies Act 1963, the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, and the Bankruptcy Act 1988.
- It enables levies on statutory auditors and audit firms for external quality assurance.
Legal text
Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
- ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2013 Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 46 of 2013 COMPANIES (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2013 CONTENTS Section 1. Definition 2. Amendment of Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 3. Amendment of sections 7, 17 and 18 of Companies (Amendment) Act 1986 4. Amendment of section 128 of Companies Act 1963 5. Designated officers: provision for certain contingencies that may arise in relation to them 6. Disclosure of information to Director of Corporate Enforcement or his or her officers 7. Amendment of Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 8. Provision in respect of certain discretion afforded by Commission Decision 2011/30/EU 9. Amendment of Personal Insolvency Act 2012 10. Amendment of Bankruptcy Act 1988 11. Short title, construction and commencement Acts Referred to Bankruptcy Act 1988 (No. 27) Companies (Amendment) Act 1986 (No. 25) Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 (No. 27) Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 (No. 44) Companies Act 1963 (No. 33) Companies Act 1990 (No. 33) Companies Acts Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 (No. 28) Finance Act 2011 (No. 6) Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (No. 44) Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39) Number 46 of2013 COMPANIES (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2013 An Act to amend the Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 with respect to the jurisdiction of the courts in examinerships, to amend sections 7 , 17 and 18 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1986 and section 128 of the Companies Act 1963 , to make further provision about the duties and powers of designated officers in circumstances where search warrants have been issued under section 20 of the Companies Act 1990 , to amend the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 by substituting a new section for section 18 thereof, to amend the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in relation to sections 25, 26, 27, 43 and 44 of that Act, to amend the Bankruptcy Act 1988 in relation to sections 17
- a)in the case of any company (including one referred to in paragraph (b)), the High Court; or (
- b)in the case of a company that, in respect of the latest financial year of the company that has ended prior to the date of the presentation of the petition, fell to be treated as a small company by virtue of section 8 or 9 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1986, the Circuit Court, and— (
- i)all subsequent references to the court in this Act shall, as respects the powers and jurisdiction of the court with respect to an examinership on foot of an appointment made under this section by the Circuit Court, be read accordingly; and (
- ii)the jurisdiction under section 3
- a)for the circuit in which the registered office of the company is situated at the time of the presentation of the petition or in which it has, at that time, its principal place of business; or (
- b)if, at that time, there is no registered office of the company and its principal place of business is outside the State, for the Dublin Circuit.
- a)or (
- b)if the related company is a company that, in respect of the latest financial year of it that has ended prior to the relevant time referred to in subsection
- a)it is a true copy of the original save for the difference that the signature or signatures on the original, and any date or dates thereon, shall appear in typeset form on the copy, and (
- b)it is accompanied by a certificate of a director and the secretary of the company, that bears the signature of the director and the secretary in electronic or written form, stating that the copy is a true copy of the original (and one such certificate relating to all of the documents mentioned in subsection
- a)of this subsection as to the form of a signature or of a date).”, and (
- c)in subsection
- f)of this section the reference to a copy of the group accounts is a reference to a copy that satisfies the following conditions— (
- a)it is a true copy of the original save for the difference that the signature or signatures on the original, and any date or dates thereon, shall appear in typeset form on the copy, and (
- b)it is accompanied by a certificate of a director and the secretary of the parent undertaking, that bears the signature of the director and the secretary in electronic or written form, stating that the copy is a true copy of the original (and the foregoing statement need not be qualified on account of the difference permitted by paragraph (
- a)of this subsection as to the form of a signature or of a date).”.
- b)a copy (as that expression is to be so construed) of the report of the auditors under section 193 of the Companies Act 1990 on the company’s individual accounts, and the original of such special report shall state the name of the auditors and be signed and dated (and section 193 (4G)(
- b)of the Companies Act 1990 shall apply as regards such signing as it applies to the signing of an auditors’ report referred to in paragraph (
- b)of this subsection).”, and (
- d)by substituting the following for subsection
- a)it is a true copy of the original save for the difference that the signature or signatures on the original, and any date or dates thereon, shall appear in typeset form on the copy, and (
- b)it is accompanied by a certificate of a director and the secretary of the company, that bears the signature of the director and the secretary in electronic or written form, stating that the copy is a true copy of the original (and one such certificate relating to all of the documents mentioned in this section suffices and the foregoing statement need not be qualified on account of the difference permitted by paragraph (
- a)of this subsection as to the form of a signature or of a date).”. Amendment of section 128 of Companies Act 1963 4. Section 128 of the Companies Act 1963 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)to (c)— “(
- a)a copy of every balance sheet laid or to be laid before the annual general meeting of the company for that year (including every document required by law to be annexed to the balance sheet); and (
- b)a copy of the report of the auditors on, and of the report of the directors accompanying, each such balance sheet; and (
- c)where any such balance sheet or document required by law to be annexed thereto is in any language other than the English or Irish language, there shall be annexed to that balance sheet a translation in English or Irish of the balance sheet or document certified in the prescribed manner to be a correct translation, and each reference in this subsection to a copy shall be construed in accordance with subsection (1A).”, (
- b)by inserting after subsection
- a)it is a true copy of the original save for the difference that the signature or signatures on the original, and any date or dates thereon, shall appear in typeset form on the copy; and (
- b)it is accompanied by a certificate of a director and the secretary of the company, that bears the signature of the director and the secretary in electronic or written form, stating that the copy is a true copy of the original (and one such certificate relating to all of the documents mentioned in subsection
- d)in subsection (6B), by substituting the following for paragraphs (
- a)and (b)— “(
- a)confirms that they audited the accounts for the relevant year, and (
- b)includes within it the report made to the members of the company pursuant to section 193 of the Act of 1990, and such report shall state the name of the auditors and be signed and dated (and section 193(4G)(
- b)of the Act of 1990 shall apply as regards such signing as it applies to the signing of an auditors’ report referred to in paragraph (b)).”, and (
- e)by substituting the following for subsection (6C)— “(6C) A copy of the report prepared in accordance with subsection (6B) shall be attached to the company’s annual return and ‘copy’ in this subsection means a copy that satisfies the following conditions— (
- a)it is a true copy of the original save for the difference that the signature or signatures on the original, and any date or dates thereon, shall appear in typeset form on the copy; and (
- b)it is accompanied by a certificate of a director and the secretary of the company, that bears the signature of the director and the secretary in electronic or written form, stating that the copy is a true copy of the original (and the foregoing statement need not be qualified on account of the difference permitted by paragraph (
- a)as to the form of a signature or of a date).”. Designated officers: provision for certain contingencies that may arise in relation to them 5. The Companies Act 1990 is amended by inserting the following section after section 20— “Provisions catering for certain contingencies concerning designated officers 20A.
- a)the designated officer named therein (including any designated officer who is named therein by reason of any prior application under this subsection)— (
- i)has ceased to be an officer of the Director (by reason of death, retirement, resignation, dismissal, reassignment or any other cause); or (
- ii)is otherwise unable to perform his or her functions (by reason of absence from duty, illness, incapacity or any other cause); or (
- b)the Director has reasonable grounds for apprehending that any of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (
- a)is likely to arise, then another designated officer may apply to a judge of the District Court for an order under subsection
- a)the judge is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so; and (
- b)the date to be specified under paragraph (
- ii)will fall during the period of validity of the warrant (including, if that is the case, such period as extended under section 20
- i)substitute the name of another designated officer (the ‘new officer’) for the name of the designated officer who was expressed to have been authorised under the search warrant immediately prior to the making of the order (the ‘previous officer’); and (
- ii)specify the time and date from which that substitution is to take effect.
- ii)of that subsection— (
- a)the search warrant shall continue in full force and effect, but shall operate to authorise the new officer to execute the warrant as fully as if he or she had been the designated officer named in the warrant when it was first issued; (
- b)the search warrant shall no longer operate to authorise the previous officer to execute the warrant (but without prejudice to the validity of anything done previously thereunder by that officer); and (
- c)the order shall operate to— (
- i)relieve the previous officer from any duties to which he or she had been subject under section 20(2E) or (2F) (but without prejudice to the validity of anything done previously thereunder by that officer); and (
- ii)impose upon the new officer any duties under section 20(2E) or (2F) that have not yet been fully discharged.
- a)or (
- b)is satisfied, then a designated officer may apply to a judge of the District Court for an order providing for each of the matters referred to in subsections
- a)the Competition Authority; (
- b)a member of the Garda Síochána; (
- c)an officer of the Revenue Commissioners; (
- d)the Insolvency Service of Ireland; (
- e)the Irish Takeover Panel; or (
- f)such other authority or other person as may be prescribed, may disclose to the Director or an officer of the Director information that, in the opinion of the authority or other person disclosing it— (
- i)relates to the commission of an offence under the Companies Acts or non-compliance otherwise with those Acts or with the duties and obligations to which companies and their officers are subject; or (
- ii)is information that could materially assist the Director or an officer of the Director in investigating— (I) whether an offence under the Companies Acts has been committed or whether there has been non-compliance otherwise with those Acts or with the duties and obligations to which companies and their officers are subject; or (II) without prejudice to the generality of clause (I), in a case where the making of an application for a disqualification order in relation to a particular person in accordance with section 160
- i)or (
- ii)have been invoked by an authority or other person as the basis for disclosure by it or him or her of information under that subsection shall not prevent the Director or an officer of the Director from using the information in relation to other circumstances specified in subsection
- a)establish criteria for apportioning a levy among the several statutory auditors and audit firms auditing public-interest entities, (
- b)submit the criteria to the Minister for approval before imposing the levy, and (
- c)specify the date on which the levy is due to be paid by the relevant statutory auditors and audit firms.
- a)amended from time to time, or (
- b)replaced by another Annex (or an equivalent provision listing third countries for the purpose of the discretion of the kind afforded to Member States by Article 2
- a)the information contained in the debtor’s Prescribed Financial Statement is true and accurate in all material respects, and”, (
- d)in section 43
- v)the procedural requirements specified in this Chapter were not complied with; (
- vi)the specified debtor, by his or her conduct within the period of 6 months ending on the application date, arranged his or her financial affairs primarily with a view to being or becoming eligible for the issue of a Debt Relief Notice.”, and (
- e)in section 44
- f)the procedural requirements specified in this Chapter were not complied with; (
- g)the specified debtor, by his or her conduct within the period of 6 months ending on the application date, arranged his or her financial affairs primarily with a view to being or becoming eligible for the issue of a Debt Relief Notice.”. Amendment of Bankruptcy Act 1988 10. The Bankruptcy Act 1988 is amended— (
- a)in section 17 by the substitution of the following for subsection
- a)in at least one daily newspaper circulating in the State, or (
- b)by the publication of the notice on the website of the Insolvency Service of Ireland.”, (
- b)in section 105, by the substitution of the following for subsection
- a)in at least one daily newspaper circulating in the State, or (
- b)by the publication of the notice on the website of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, and the petitioner shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court in the same manner as any other bankrupt, and any proposal which may have been made or accepted or approved shall be void.”, (
- c)by the substitution of the following for section 130: “Arranging publication of notice without authority 130. A person who— (
- a)arranges for or causes the publication of a notice under this Act— (
- i)in the Iris Oifigiúil, (
- ii)in a newspaper, or (iii) on the website of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, without authority under this Act, or (
- b)arranges or causes the publication of such a notice, knowing that the contents of such notice are false in a material respect, shall be guilty of an offence.”, (
- d)in section 140A— (
- i)by the insertion after subsection
- i)in the Iris Oifigiúil, and (
- ii)in either— (I) at least one daily newspaper circulating in the State, or (II) on the website of the Insolvency Service of Ireland.” for “in the prescribed manner in Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one daily newspaper circulating in the State.”, and (
- f)by the substitution of the following for section 141: “Publication of certain notices to be evidence 141. A notice published pursuant to this Act— (
- a)in the Iris Oifigiúil, (
- b)in a daily newspaper circulating in the State, or (
- c)on the website of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, shall be evidence of the matters contained in the notice.”. Short title, construction and commencement 11.