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United Kingdom Statutory Instruments


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Statutory Instruments

1995 No. 2092

COMPANIES

The Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1995

Made

4th August 1995

Laid before Parliament

8th August 1995

Coming into force

1st September 1995

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 245(3) and (4) and 251(1), (2) and (3) of the Companies Act 1985(1)and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

PART IGENERAL

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1995 and shall come into force on 1st September 1995.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations, unless otherwise stated-

"the 1985 Act" means the Companies Act 1985;

"banking company" means a company the directors of which prepare accounts for a financial year in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the 1985 Act relating to banking companies;

"EEA State" means a State which is a Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992, as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993 and by EEA Council Decision Number 1/95 of 10th March 1995(2)

"entitled persons" means the same as in section 251 of the 1985 Act;

"full accounts and reports" means a company's annual accounts, the directors' report and the auditors' report on those accounts required to be sent to entitled persons under section 238(1) of the 1985 Act and "full" in relation to any balance sheet, profit and loss account, group accounts or directors' report means any such document comprised in the full accounts and reports;

"insurance company" means a company the directors of which prepare accounts for a financial year in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the 1985 Act relating to insurance companies;

"listed public company" means a public company whose shares or debentures, or any class of whose shares or debentures, are listed within the meaning of section 251(1) of the 1985 Act.

PART IICONDITIONS FOR SENDING OUT SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Cases in which sending of summary financial statement prohibited

3.-(1) A listed public company may not send a summary financial statement to an entitled person instead of copies of its full accounts and reports, in any case where it is prohibited from doing so by any relevant provision (within the meaning of paragraph (2) below)-

(a)in its memorandum or articles of association, or

(b)where the entitled person is a holder of the company's debentures, in any instrument constituting or otherwise governing any of the company's debentures of which that person is a holder.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) above, any provision (however expressed) which requires copies of the full accounts and reports to be sent to entitled persons, or which forbids the sending of summary financial statements under section 251 of the 1985 Act, is a relevant provision.

Ascertainment of entitled person's wishes

4.-(1) A listed public company may not send a summary financial statement to an entitled person in place of copies of its full accounts and reports, unless the company has ascertained that the entitled person does not wish to receive copies of those documents.

(2) Whether or not an entitled person wishes to receive copies of the full accounts and reports for a financial year is to be ascertained-

(a)from any relevant notification in writing he has given to the company (either as an entitled person or as a person to whom paragraph (5) of this regulation applies) as to whether he wishes to receive copies of the full accounts and reports or as to whether he wishes, instead of copies of those documents, to receive summary financial statements; or

(b)failing any such express notification, from any failure to respond to an opportunity given to the entitled person (including for this purpose a person to whom paragraph (5) of this regulation applies) to elect to receive copies of the full accounts and reports either in response to a notice sent by the company under regulation 5 below, or as part of a relevant consultation of his wishes by the company under regulation 6 below.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) above, a notification is a relevant notification with respect to a financial year if it relates to that year (whether or not it has been given at the invitation of the company) and if it is received by the company not later than 28 days before the first date on which copies of the full accounts and reports are sent out to entitled persons in compliance with section 238(1) of the 1985 Act with respect to the financial year.

(4) A company may not send a summary financial statement to an entitled person in relation to any financial year in place of copies of the full accounts and reports unless-

(a)the period allowed for laying and delivering full accounts and reports under section 244 of the 1985 Act(3)for that year has not expired, and

(b)the summary financial statement has been approved by the board of directors and the original statement signed on behalf of the board by a director of the company.

(5) This paragraph applies to a person who is entitled, whether conditionally or unconditionally, to become an entitled person in relation to the company, but who has not yet become such an entitled person.

Consultation by notice

5.-(1) A listed public company may give notice to an entitled person (including for this purpose a person to whom regulation 4(5) applies), by sending it by post or giving it in any other manner authorised by the company's articles, which shall-

(a)state that for the future so long as he is an entitled person, he will be sent a summary financial statement for each financial year instead of a copy of the company's full accounts and reports, unless he notifies the company in writing that he wishes to receive full accounts and reports,

(b)state that the summary financial statement for a financial year will contain a summary of the company's or group's profit and loss account, balance sheet and directors' report for that year,

(c)state that the printed card or form accompanying the notice in accordance with paragraph (2) below must be returned by a date specified in the notice, being a date at least 21 days after service of the notice and not less than 28 days before the first date on which copies of the full accounts and reports for the next financial year for which the entitled person is entitled to receive them are sent out to entitled persons in compliance with section 238(1) of the 1985 Act,

(d)include a statement in a prominent position to the effect that a summary financial statement will not contain sufficient information to allow as full an understanding of the results and state of affairs of the company or group as would be provided by the full annual accounts and reports and that members and debenture holders requiring more detailed information have the right to obtain, free of charge, a copy of the company's last full accounts and reports., and

(e)state that the summary financial statement will contain a statement by the company's auditors as to whether the summary financial statement is consistent with the full accounts and reports for the year in question, whether it complies with the requirements of section 251 of the Act and of these Regulations and whether their report on the accounts was qualified.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, the notice shall be accompanied by a printed card or form, in respect of which any postage necessary for its return to the company has been, or will be, paid by the company, which is so worded as to enable an entitled person (including a person to whom regulation 4(5) above applies), by marking a box and returning the card or form, to notify the company that he wishes to receive full accounts and reports for the next financial year for which he is entitled to receive them as an entitled person and for all future financial years thereafter.

(3) The company need not pay the postage in respect of the return of the printed card or form in the following circumstances-

(a)if the address of a member to which notices are sent in accordance with the company's aritcles is not within an EEA State,

(b)if the address of a debenture holder to which notices are sent in accordance with the terms of any instrument constituting or otherwise governing the debentures of which he is a holder is not within an EEA State, or

(c)if the address of a person to whom regulation 4(5) above applies to which notices are sent, in accordance with the contractual provisions whereunder he has a right (conditionally or unconditionally) to become an entitled person, is not within an EEA State.

Relevant consultation

6.-(1) A listed public company may conduct a relevant consultation to ascertain the wishes of an entitled person

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a relevant consultation of the wishes of an entitled person is a notice given to the entitled person (including for this purpose a person to whom regulation 4(5) above applies), by sending it by post or giving it in any other manner authorised by the company's articles, which-

(a)states that for the future, so long as he is an entitled person, he will be sent a summary financial statement instead of the full accounts and reports of the company, unless he notifies the company in writing that he wishes to continue to receive full accounts and reports;

(b)accompanies a copy of the full accounts and reports;

(c)accompanies a copy of a summary financial statement, prepared in accordance with section 251 of the 1985 Act and these Regulations, with respect to the financial year covered by those full accounts and reports and which is identified in the notice as an example of the document which the entitled person will receive for the future, so long as he is an entitled person, unless he notifies the company to the contrary; and

(d)subject to paragraph (3) below, is accompanied by a printed card or form, in respect of which any postage necessary for its return to the company has been, or will be, paid by the company, which is so worded as to enable an entitled person (including a person to whom regulation 4(5) above applies), by marking a box and returning the card or form, to notify the company that he wishes to receive full accounts and reports for the next financial year for which he is entilted to receive them as an entitled person and for all future financial years thereafter.

(3) Regulation 5(3) above applies in respect of the payment of postage for the return of the printed card or form referred to in paragraph (2)(d) of this regulation.

PART IIIFORM AND CONTENT OF SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Provisions applying to all companies and groups

7.-(1) Every summary financial statement issued by a listed public company in place of the full accounts and reports must comply with this regulation.

(2) The summary financial statement must state the name of the person who signed it on behalf of the board.

(3) The summary financial statement of a company which is not required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act must include a statement in a prominent position to the effect that the summary financial statement does not contain sufficient information to allow as full an understanding of the results and state of affairs of the company as would be provided by the full annual accounts and reports, and that members and debenture holders requiring more detailed information have the right to obtain, free of charge, a copy of the company's last full accounts and reports.

(4) The summary financial statement of a company which is required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act must include a statement in a prominent position to the effect that the summary financial statement does not contain sufficient information to allow as full an understanding of the results of the group and state of affairs of the company or of the group as would be provided by the full annual accounts and reports, and that members and debenture holders requiring more detailed information have the right to obtain, free of charge, a copy of the company's last full accounts and reports.

(5) The summary financial statement must contain a clear, conspicuous statement-

(a)of how members and debenture holders can obtain, free of charge, a copy of the company's last full accounts and reports, and

(b)of how members and debenture holders may elect in writing to receive full accounts and reports in place of summary financial statements for all future financial years.

Companies and groups other than banking and insurance companies and groups

8.-(1) The summary financial statement of a listed public company (other than a banking or insurance company) the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act, shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 1 to these Regulations, so far as applicable to such a company.

(2) The summary financial statement of a listed public company (other than the parent company of a banking or insurance group) the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act, shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 1 to these Regulations, so far as applicable to such a company.

Banking companies and groups

9.-(1) The summary financial statement of a listed public company which is in relation to the financial year in question a banking company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act, shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 2 to these Regulations, so far as applicable to such a company.

(2) The summary financial statement of a listed public company which is the parent company of a banking group shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 2 to these Regulations, so far as applicable to such a company.

Insurance companies and groups

10.-(1) The summary financial statement of a listed public company which is in relation to the financial year in question an insurance company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts under Part VII of the 1985 Act, shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 3 to these Regulations, so far as applicable to such a company.

(2) The summary financial statement of a listed public company which is the parent company of an insurance group shall be in the form, and contain the information, required by Schedule 3 to these Regualtions, so far as applicable to such a company.

PART IVTRANSITIONALS ETC

Revocation, transitionals and saving

11.-(1) The Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1992(4)are hereby revoked.

(2) A listed public company other than one to which regulation 10 above applies may, with respect to a financial year of the company commencing on a date prior to 23rd December 1994, comply with the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1992 as though those Regulations had not been revoked by paragraph (1) above, and accordingly need not comply with the provisions of these Regulations.

(3) Paragraph (4) below has effect in relation to the ascertainment of the wishes of an entitled person for the purposes of section 251(2) of the 1985 Act.

(4) So far as anything done under or for the purposes of any provision of the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1992 could have been done under or for the purposes of the corresponding provision of these Regulations, it is not invalidated by the revocation of that provision but has effect as if done under or for the purposes of the corresponding provision.

Consequential amendments

12.-(1) The Companies (Revision of Defective Accounts and Report) Regulations 1990(5)are amended as follows.

(2) In regulations 14(2) and (4) and 16(3), for "the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1992" substitute "the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1995"

(3) After regulation 16(3) insert the following paragraph-

Phillip Openheim,

Minister for Company Affairs,

Department of Trade and Industry

4th August 1995

Regulation 8

SCHEDULE 1FORM AND CONTENT OF SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF COMPA NIES AND GROUPS OTHER THAN BANKING OR INSURANCE COMPANIES AND GROUPS

Form of summary financial statement

1.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the information prescribed by the following paragraphs of this Schedule, in such order and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, together with any other information necessary to ensure that the summary financial statement is consistent with the full accounts and reports for the financial year in question.

(2) Nothing in this Schedule shall be construed as prohibiting the inclusion in the summary financial statement of any additional information derived from the company's annual accounts and the directors' report.

Summary directors' report

2.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the whole of, or a summary of, that portion of the directors' report for the year in question which sets out the following matters-�

(a)the matters required by section 234(1)(a) of the 1985 Act(6)business review);

(b)the amount recommended to be paid as dividend, if not disclosed in the summary profit and loss account;

(c)the matters required by paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 7 to the 1985 Act(7)important post-balance sheet events); and

(d)the matters required by paragraph 6(b) of that Schedule(8)likely future developments in the business).

(2) The summary financial statement shall also contain the list of names of directors required by section 234(2) of the 1985 Act.

Summary profit and loss account: companies not required to prepare group accounts

3.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary profit and loss account showing, in so far as they may be derived from the full profit and loss account, the items, or combinations of items, listed in sub-paragraph (3) below, in the order set out in that sub-paragraph.

(2) The items or combinations of items listed in sub-paragraph (3) below may appear under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(3) The items, or combinations of items, referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are-

(a)turnover:

(b)income from shares in group undertakings and participating interests:

(c)other interest receivable and similar income and interest payable and similar charges:

(d)the profit or loss on ordinary activities before taxation;

(e)tax on profit or loss on ordinary activities:

(f)profit or loss on ordinary activities after tax:

(g)extraordinary income and charges after tax:

(h)profit or loss for the financial year:

(i)the aggregate amount of dividends paid and, if not disclosed in the summary directors' report proposed.

(4) The summary profit and loss account shall also show, at the end thereof and under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the figure required by paragraph 1(1) of Part I of Schedule 6 to the 1985 Act(9)directors' emoluments).

Summary profit and loss account: companies required to prepare group accounts

4.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated profit and loss account showing the items or combinations of items required by paragraph 3 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the modifications specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The modifications referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are as follows-�

(a)in place of the information required by paragraph 3(3)(b), there shall be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Income from interests in associated undertakings" required to be shown in the Schedule 4 formats by paragraph 21(3) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act(10)

(b) between the information required by paragraph 3(3)(f) and that required by paragraph 3(3)(g) there shall in addition be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 4 formats by paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act; and

(c) the figure required by paragraph 3(3)(g) shall be shown after the deduction or the addition (as the case may be) of the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 4 formats by paragraph 17(4) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act.

Summary balance sheet: companies not required to prepare group accounts

5.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary balance sheet.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) below, the summary balance sheet shall show, in so far as it can be derived from the full balance sheet and under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, a single amount for each of the headings to which letters are assigned in the balance sheet format which has been used for the full balance sheet (where necessary by the combination of the items to which Roman and Arabic numbers are assigned under those headings) in the order set out in the full balance sheet.

(3) Where an alternative position is permitted for any item in the balance sheet format used, the summary balance sheet shall use the position used by the full balance sheet.

(4) Where the full balance sheet used is format 2 in Schedule 4 to the 1985 Act, then in the case of heading C under "Liabilities"two figures must be shown, one figure for amounts falling due within one year and one for amounts falling due after one year.

Summary balance sheet: companies required to prepare group accounts

6. The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated balance sheet which shall show the items required by paragraph 5 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the addition of the item "Minority interests" required by paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act, to be inserted as required by that paragraph.

Corresponding amounts

7. In respect of every item shown in the summary profit and loss account or summary consolidated profit and loss account (as the case may be), or in the summary balance sheet or summary consolidated balance sheet (as the case may be) the corresponding amount shall be shown for the immediately preceding financial year; for this purpose "the corresponding amount" is the amount shown in the summary financial statement for that year or which would have been so shown had such a statement been prepared for that year, after any adjustments necessary to ensure that that amount is comparable with the item for the financial year in question.

Regulation 9

SCHEDULE 2FORM AND CONTENT OF SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF BANK ING COMPANIES AND GROUPS

Form of summary financial statement

1.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the information prescribed by the following paragraphs of this Schedule, in such order and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, together with any other information necessary to ensure that the summary financial statement is consistent with the full accounts and reports for the financial year in question.

(2) Nothing in this Schedule shall be construed as prohibiting the inclusion in the summary financial statement of any additional information derived from the company's annual accounts and the directors' report.

Summary directors' report

2.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the whole of, or a summary of, that portion of the directors' report for the year in question which sets out the following matters-�

(a)the matters required by section 234(1)(a) of the 1985 Act (business review);

(b)the amount recommended to be paid as dividend, if not disclosed in the summary profit and loss account;

(c)the matters required by paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 7 to the 1985 Act (important post-balance sheet events); and

(d)the matters required by paragraph 6(b) of that Schedule (likely future developments in the business).

(2) The summary financial statement shall also contain the list of names of directors required by section 234(2) of the 1985 Act.

Summary profit and loss account: companies not required to prepare group accounts

3.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary profit and loss account showing, in so far as they may be derived from the full profit and loss account, the items, or combinations of items, listed in sub-paragraph (3) below, in the order set out in that sub-paragraph.

(2) The items or combinations of items listed in sub-paragraph (3) below may appear under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(3) The items, or combinations of items, referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are-

(a)interest receivable and payable:

(b)dividend income, fees and commissions receivable and payable, dealing profits or losses and other operating income:

(c)administrative expenses, depreciation and amortisation, other operating charges, amounts written off, and adjustments to amounts written off, fixed asset investments:

(d)provisions and adjustments to provisions:

(e)profit or loss on ordinary activities before tax:

(f)tax on profit or loss on ordinary activities:

(g)profit or loss on ordinary activities after tax:

(h)extraordinary profit or loss after tax:

(i)other taxes not shown under the preceding items:

(j)profit or loss for the financial year:

(k)the aggregate amount of dividends paid and, if not disclosed in the summary directors' report, proposed.

(4) The summary profit and loss account shall also show, at the end thereof and under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the figure required by paragraph 1(1) of Part I of Schedule 6 to the 1985 Act (directors' emoluments).

Summary profit and loss account: companies required to prepare group accounts

4.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated profit and loss account showing the items, or combinations of items, required by paragraph 3 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the modifications specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The modifications referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are as follows-�

(a)between the information required by paragraph 3(3)(d) and that required by paragraph 3(3)(e) there shall in addition be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Income from associated undertakings" required to be shown in the Schedule 9 formats by paragraph 3(7)(ii) of Part II of Schedule 9 to the 1985 Act(11)

(b)between the information required by paragraph 3(3)(g) and that required by paragraph 3(3)(h) there shall in addition be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9 formats by paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act as adapted by paragraph 3(3) of Part II of Schedule 9 to that Act; and

(c)the figures required by paragraph 3(3)(h) and (i) shall each be shown after the deduction or the addition (as the case may be) of the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9 formats by paragraph 17(4) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act as adapted by paragraph 3(4) of Part II of Schedule 9 to that Act.

Summary balance sheet: companies not required to prepare group accounts

5.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary balance sheet which shall show, in so far as they may be derived from the full balance sheet, the items, or combinations of items, set out in sub-paragraph (2) below, in the order set out in that sub-paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(2) The items, or combinations of items, referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are as follows-�

(a)cash and balances at central [or post office] banks, treasury bills and other eligible bills:

(b)loans and advances to banks:

(c)loans and advances to customers:

(d)debt securities [and other fixed income securities], equity shares [and other variable-yield securities], participating interests and shares in group undertakings:

(e)intangible and tangible fixed assets:

(f)called up capital not paid, own shares, other assets, prepayments and accrued income:

(g)total assets under the heading "ASSETS"

(h)deposits by banks:

(i)customer accounts:

(j)debt securities in issue:

(k)other liabilities, accruals and deferred income and provisions for liabilities and charges:

(l)subordinated liabilities:

(m)called up share capital, share premium account, reserves, revaluation reserve and profit and loss account:

(n)total liabilities under the heading "LIABILITIES"

(o)contingent liabilities:

(p)commitments:

Summary balance sheet: companies required to prepare group accounts

6.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated balance sheet showing the items required by paragraph 5 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the addition specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) Between the items required by paragraph 5(2)(1) and (m) or after the item required by paragraph 5(2)(m) (whichever is the position adopted for the full accounts), there shall in addition be shown under an appropriate heading the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9 format by paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act, as adapted by paragraph 3(2) of Part II of Schedule 9 to the 1985 Act.

Corresponding amounts

7. In respect of every item shown in the summary profit and loss account or summary consolidated profit and loss account (as the case may be), or in the summary balance sheet or summary consolidated balance sheet (as the case may be) the corresponding amount shall be shown for the immediately preceding financial year; for this purpose "the corresponding amount" is the amount shown in the summary financial statement for that year or which would have been so shown had such a statement been prepared for that year, after any adjustments necessary to ensure that that amount is comparable with the item for the financial year in question.

Regulation 10

SCHEDULE 3FORM AND CONTENT OF SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF IN SURANCE COMPANIES AND GROUPS

Application of Schedule

1.-(1) Paragraphs 2 to 8 of this Schedule apply where the full annual accounts for the financial year have been prepared under Part VII of the 1985 Act as amended by the Companies Act 1985 (Insurance Companies Accounts) Regulations 1993(12)

(2) Paragraphs 2 and 3 and 8 to 11 of this Schedule apply where the full annual accounts for the financial year have been prepared under the transitional arrangements (as defined in paragraph 9(1) of this Schedule).

(3) Paragraph 12 applies where the directors of a parent company of an insurance group, being entitled to do so, prepare group accounts for the financial year in an alternative form as permitted by article 7 of, and paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 2 to, the Companies Act 1989 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 1990(13)

Form of summary financial statement

2.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the information prescribed by the following paragraphs of this Schedule, in such order and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, together with any other information necessary to ensure that the summary financial statement is consistent with the full accounts and reports for the financial year in question.

(2) Nothing in this Schedule shall be construed as prohibiting the inclusion in the summary financial statement of any additional information derived from the company's annual accounts and the directors' report.

Summary directors' report

3.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain the whole of, or a summary of, that portion of the directors' report for the year in question which sets out the following matters-�

(b)the amount recommended to be paid as dividend, if not disclosed in the summary profit and loss account;

(c)the matters required by paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 7 to the 1985 Act (important post-balance sheet events); and

(d)the matters required by paragraph 6(b) of that Schedule (likely future developments in the business).

(2) The summary financial statement shall also contain the list of names of directors required by section 234(2) of the 1985 Act.

Summary profit and loss account: companies not required to prepare group accounts

4.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary profit and loss account showing, in so far as they may be derived from the full profit and loss account, the items, or combinations of items, listed in sub-paragraph (3) below, in the order set out in that sub-paragraph.

(2) The items or combinations of items listed in sub-paragraph (3) below may appear under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(3) The items, or combinations of items, referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are-

(a)gross premiums written-general business:

(b)gross premiums written-long term business:

(c)balance on the technical account for general business:

(d)balance on the technical account for long term business:

(e)other net income an charges:

(f)the profit or loss on ordinary activities before tax:

(g)tax on profit or loss on ordinary activities:

(h)profit or loss on ordinary activities after tax:

(i)extraordinary profit or loss after tax:

(j)other taxes:

(k)profit or loss for the financial year:

(l)the aggregate amount of dividends paid and, if not disclosed in the summary directors' report proposed.

(4) The summary profit and loss account shall also show, at the end thereof and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, the figure required by paragraph 1(1) of Part I of Schedule 6 to the 1985 Act (directors' emoluments).

Summary profit and loss account: companies required to prepare group accounts

5.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated profit and loss account showing the items, or combinations of items, required by paragraph 4 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the modifications specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The modifications referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are as follows-�

(a)between the information required by paragraph 4(3)(e) and that required by paragraph 4(3)(f) there shall in addition be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Income from associated undertakings" required to be shown in the Schedule 9A formats by paragraph 21(3)(b) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act, as adapted by paragraph 1(8) of Part II of Schedule 9A to that Act;

(b)between the information required by paragraph 4(3)(h) and that required by paragraph 4(3)(i) there shall in addition be shown, under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9A formats by paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act as adapted by paragraph 1(6)(c) of Part II of Schedule 9A to that Act; and

(c)the figures required by paragraph 4(3)(i) and (j) shall each be shown after the deduction or the addition (as the case may be) of the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9A formats by paragraph 17(4) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act as adapted by paragraph 1(6)(d) of Part II of Schedule 9A to that Act.

Summary balance sheet: companies not required to prepare group accounts

6.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary balance sheet which shall show, in so far as they may be derived from the full balance sheet, the items, or combinations of items, set out in sub-paragraph (2) below in the order of that sub-paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(2) The items, or combinations of items, referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are-�

(a)investments:

(b)reinsurers' share of technical provisions;

(c)other assets:

(d)total assets under the heading "ASSETS"

(e)capital and reserves:

(f)subordinated liabilities:

(g)fund for future appropriations:

(h)gross technical provisions:

(i)technical provisions-�reinsurance amounts

(j)other liabilities:

(k)total liabilities under the heading "LIABILITIES"

Summary balance sheet: companies required to prepare group accounts

7.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary consolidated balance sheet which shall show the items required by paragraph 6 above, in the order required by that paragraph and under such headings as the directors consider appropriate, but with the addition of the item specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) Between the items required by paragraph 6(2)(d) and (e) above, there shall in addition be shown under an appropriate heading the item "Minority interests" required to be shown in the Schedule 9A format by paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 4A to the 1985 Act, as adapted by paragraph 1(6)(b) of Part II of Schedule 9A to the 1985 Act.

Corresponding amounts

8. In respect of every item shown in the summary profit and loss account or summary consolidated profit and loss account (as the case may be) or in the summary balance sheet or summary consolidated balance sheet (as the case may be) the corresponding amount shall be shown for the immediately preceding financial year; for this purpose "the corresponding amount" is the amount shown in the summary financial statement for that year or which would have been so shown had such a statement been prepared for that year, after any adjustments necessary to ensure that that amount is comparable with the item for the financial year in question.

Transitional arrangements: definition

9.-(1) In this Schedule "the transitional arrangements" means the transitional arrangements made by regulation 7 of the Companies Act 1985 (Insurance Companies Accounts) Regulations 1993 with respect to the amendments to the 1985 Act effected by regulations 2 to 5 of those Regulations (which allow annual accounts for a financial year commencing on a date prior to 23rd December 1994 to be prepared under the 1985 Act as in force prior to its amendment by those Regulations).

(2) Where the company is entitled to the exemptions conferred by paragraph 28 of Schedule 9A to the 1985 Act(14) as continued in force under the transitional arrangements (the full accounts having been prepared under the transitional arrangements) and has relied upon them with respect to the full accounts from which the summary financial statement is to be drawn, the summary financial statement shall state that fact.

Summary profit and loss account under transitional arrangements

10.-(1) The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary profit and loss account, or, in the case of a company the directors of which are so required, a summary consolidated profit and loss account, showing, in so far as they may be derived from the full profit and loss account, amounts for the items set out in sub-paragraph (2) below under such headings as the directors consider appropriate.

(2) The items referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are as follows-�

(a)the profit or loss for the financial year before taxation;

(b)taxation, that is the combined amount of the charge to revenue for United Kingdom taxation required to be shown by paragraph 14(1)(c) of Schedule 9A to the 1985 Act and the charge for taxation imposed out of the United Kingdom on profits, income and (so far as charged to revenue) capital gains required to be shown by that paragraph;

(c)the profit or loss for the financial year after taxation;

(d)extraordinary and exceptional items, that is the amounts required by paragraph 18(6)(a) of that Schedule; and

(e)dividends paid and proposed, that is the aggregate amount of dividends paid and proposed required by paragraph 14(1)(k) of that Schedule.

(3) The summary profit and loss account shall also show, at the end thereof and under such heading as the directors consider appropriate, the figure required by paragraph 1(1) of Part I of Schedule 6 to the 1985 Act (directors' emoluments).

Summary balance sheet under transitional arrangements

11. The summary financial statement shall contain, in the case of a company the directors of which are not required to prepare group accounts for the financial year, a summary balance sheet or, in the case of a company the directors of which are so required, a summary consolidated balance sheet, which shall show, in so far as they may be derived from the full balance sheet, the following items-�

(a)the amount of issued share capital required to be disclosed under paragraph 2 of Schedule 9A to the 1985 Act (issued share capital);

(b)an aggregate figure for the reserves required to be shown under paragraphs 4(1) and 7 of that Schedule (reserves);

(c)an aggregate figure for the provisions required to be shown under paragraphs 4(1) and 7 of that Schedule (provisions);

(d)an aggregate figure for liabilities required to be shown in the balance sheet under Part I of that Schedule (liabilities); and

(e)a combined figure for any assets required to be disclosed in the full balance sheet under the provisions of Part I of that Schedule (assets),

in each case under such heading as the directors consider appropriate.

Companies preparing alternative form group accounts

12. Where the directors of a parent company of an insurance group, being entitled to do so, prepare group accounts for the financial year in an alternative form-�

(a)the summary financial statement for that company shall contain a summary profit and loss account for the group showing the information required by paragraph 10 above with such modifications as are required to summarise appropriately the profit or loss of the group;

(b)the summary financial statement for that company shall contain a summary balance sheet for the group showing the information required by paragraph 11 above with such modifications as are required to summarise appropriately the state of affairs of the group; and

(c)paragraph 8 above shall apply.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 1st September 1995, replace the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/3075) ("the 1992 Regulations"

The Regulations re-enact the provisions of the 1992 Regulations with minor and drafting amendments and with the following changes of substance-�

(a)regulation 4 sets out the manner in which a listed public company is to ascertain whether an entitled person (as defined in regulation 2) wishes to receive a summary financial statement ("SFS"in place of the full accounts and reports for the financial year. If such companies have not received an express written notification from the entitled person, they can conduct a relevant consultatioin under regulation 6 of these Regulations (a procedure similar to that previously set out in regulation 6(3) of the 1992 Regulations). Alternatively, regulation 5 introduces a new procedure of sending entitled persons an advance notice describing what an SFS will contain and enclosing a reply-paid card on which entitled persons can indicate whether they wish to receive full accounts and reports;

(b)regulation 6(2)(b) of the 1992 Regulations (under which a failure by an entitled person to respond to a relevant consultation under that regulation impliedly countermanded any previous notification of a wish to receive full accounts and reports) is not re-enacted in these Regulations;

(c)companies will only have to pay for the postage on cards sent to entitled persons under regulations 5(2) and 6(2)(d) of these Regulations if those persons have addresses in the European Economic Area (regulation 5(3) and 6(3));

(d)when an SFS is sent to an entitled person under the Regulations it will no longer be accompanied by a reply-paid card on which the entitled person can request the full accounts and reports. The SFS will, however, contain a clear statement of the right of entitled persons to obtain a free copy of a company's full accounts and reports and of how that copy can be obtained, and of how they may elect to receive such accounts and reports rather than SFSs for future years (regulation 7(4) and (5));

(e)the revisions to the law on the content of the full statutory accounts of insurance companies and groups contained in the Companies Act 1985 (Insurance Companies Accounts) Regulations 1993(12) (S. 1993/3246">1993/3246) (and the transitional arrangements contained in those Regulations) are reflected in regulation 10 of, and Schedule 3 to, these Regulations;

(f)listed public companies other than insurance companies may continue to comply with the 1992 Regulations with respect to financial years commencing prior to 23rd December 1994 (regulation 11(2)). Special transitional arrangements for insurance companies are contained in Schedule 3; and

(g)the transitional provisions contained in paragraphs 3 and 7 of Schedule 2 to the 1992 Regulations are not re-enacted as they are spent.

(1)

1985 c. 6; section 245 was substituted by sections 1 and 12 of the Companies Act 1989 (c. 40), and section 251 by sections 1 and 15 of that Act. Section 251 was amended by S.I. 1992/3003.

(2)

O.J. No. L86/58 of 20th April 1995.

(3)

Section 244 was substituted by sections 1 and 11 of the Companies Act 1989.

(4)

S.I. 1992/3075.

(5)

S.I. 1990/2570.

(6)

Section 234 was substituted by sections 1 and 8 of the Companies Act 1989.

(7)

Paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 7 to the 1985 Act was amended by section 8(2) of, and paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5 to, the Companies Act 1989.

(8)

Paragraph 6(b) of Schedule 7 to the 1985 Act was amended by section 8(2) of, and paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5 to, the Companies Act 1989.

(9)

Part I of Schedule 6 to the 1985 Act was originally Part V of Schedule 5 to the 1985 Act. A new Schedule 5 was substituted by sections 1 and 6(2) of, and Schedule 3 to, the Companies Act 1989. However, Part V of the original Schedule 5 was reproduced, with amendments, as Part I of Schedule 6 by sections 1 and 6(4) of, and Schedule 4 to, the 1989 Act.

(10)

Schedule 4A was inserted by section 5(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Companies Act 1989.

(11)

A new Schedule 9 was inserted into the 1985 Act by regulation 5 of, and Schedule 1 to, S.I. 1991/2705.

(12)

S.I. 1993/3246.

(13)

S.I. 1990/355 (c.13), paragraph 3(1) in Part I of Schedule 2 to which was amended by regulation 5(2) of S.I. 1993/3246.

(14)

Paragraph 28 in Part I of Schedule 9 (now 9A) to the 1985 Act was amended by paragraph 9 of Schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1989.


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