Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983

Restriction on distribution of assets.

46.—(1) Subject to section 47 , a public limited company may only make a distribution at any time—

(a) if at that time the amount of its net assets is not less than the aggregate of the company's called-up share capital and its undistributable reserves; and

(b) if, and to the extent that, the distribution does not reduce the amount of those assets to less than that aggregate.

(2) For the purposes of this section the undistributable reserves of a public limited company are—

(a) the share premium account;

(b) the capital redemption reserve fund;

(c) the amount by which the company's accumulated, unrealised profits, so far as not previously utilised by any capitalisation, exceed its accumulated, unrealised losses, so far asnot previously written off in a reduction or reorganisation of capital duly made; and

(d) any other reserve which the company is prohibited from distributing by any enactment, other than one contained in this Part, or by its memorandum or articles.

(3) Subsections (4) to (8) of section 45 shall apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section.

(4) A public limited company shall not include any uncalled share capital as an asset in any account relevant for the purposes of this section.