Interpretation Registrar to Specify Forms References to Parent Company Forming Incorporated Company Requirements to Memorandum Powers of a Company Power Limited by Memorandum Exclusion of Deemed Notice Signature of Memorandum Memorandum Alteration Alteration of Objects Regulations for Companies Regulations for Unlimited Company Adoption and Application of Table A Printing and Signature of Articles Alteration of Articles Statutory Forms of M & AA Registration of M & AA Effect of Registration Power of Company to Hold Lands Certificate of Incorporation Unlimited Companies Reregistration Company Name Restrictions Power to Dispense Change of Name Company's Misleading Name Specification of Names Index of Company Names Effect of Memorandum & Articles Companies Limited by Guarantee Alterations in Memorandum & Articles Power to Alter Conditions Copies of Memorandum & Articles Issued Copies of Memorandum Definition of Member Membership of Holding Company Meaning of Private Company Private Company Privileges Form of Contracts Pre-incorporation Contracts Bills of Exchange & Promissory Notes Execution of Deeds Abroad Power to Have Official Seal Authentication of Documents Dating of Prospectus Specific Requirements Exemption from Compliance Advertisements on Prospectuses Publishing Guildelines by Commission Expert's Consent Registration of Prospectus One Document Prospectus More Than One Document Prospectus Submission of Certified Copies Civil liability for Misstatements Criminal Liability for Misstatements Right to Damages and Compensation Offer of Shares or Debentures Interpretation of Provisions Prohibition of Allotment: Subscription Prohibition of Allotment: Statement Effect of Irregular Allotment Applications for Shares & Debentures Allotment of Shares and Debentures Return as to Allotments Power to Pay Commissions Financial assistance prohibited Definitions Transactions not prohibited by 47A Restriction for Listed Companies Section 47A for Unlisted Companies Statement Under Section 47E Special Resolution Under Section 47E Financial assistance under section 47E Offering Shares to the Public Premiums on Issue of Shares Merger Relief Relief of Group Reconstructions Provisions to Sections 48C and 48D Relief from Section 48B Power to Issue Redeemable Shares Financing of Redemption Company Power to Purchase Shares Requirements for Listed Company Payments Apart From Purchase Price Authority for Purchase Authority for Purchase Contract Assignment of Right to Purchase Shares Disclosure of Share Purchase Capital Redemption Reserve Power to Redeem Shares out of Capital Availability of Profits Conditions for Payment out of Capital Procedure for Special Resolution Publicity for Proposed Payment Objections by Company's Members Powers of Court on Application Effect of Company's Failure to Redeem Power to Modify Certain Sections Transitional Cases: Sections 49 to 49S Definitions for Sections 49 to 49R Power to Issue Shares at a Discount Arrangement for Amounts Paid on Shares Reserve Liability of Limited Company Power to Alter Share Capital Share Capital Consolidation Notice of Increase of Capital Reserve Share Capital on Re-registration Power of Company to Pay Interest Non Voting Shares Approval for Allotment of Shares Validation of Shares Improperly Issued Resolution for Share Capital Reduction Application for Confirming Order Order Confirming Reduction Registration of Order Registration of Special Resolution Liability of Members Concealing Name of Creditor Variation of rights Rights of Shareholders Documents on Shareholder Rights Nature of Shares Numbering of Shares Transfer not to be Registered Transfer by Personal Representative Registration of Transfer Notice of Refusal to Register Transfer Certification of Transfers Issue of Certificates Certificate to be Evidence of Title Replacement of Lost Certificate Evidence of Grant of Probate Share Warrants to Bearer Official Seals for Share Certificates Making Compensation for Losses Register of Debenture Holders Provision of Instrument Register of Debenture Holders Meetings of Debenture Holders Liability of Trustees Perpetual Debentures Power to Re-issue Redeemed Debentures Contracts to Subscribe for Debentures Payment of Certain Debts Interpretation Certain Distributions Prohibited Restriction on Distribution of Assets Exemption of Certain Companies Realised Profits of Insurance Company Distribution to Be Justified Last Annual Accounts Requirement for Interim Accounts Requirements for Initial Accounts Method of Applying Section 79F Treatment of Assets Distributions in Kind Consequences of Unlawful Distribution Saving for Provision in Articles Application to Certain Companies Saving for Other Distribution Restraints Registration of Charges Charges Created by the Company Charges Existing on Property Charges to be Kept by Registrar Entries of Satisfaction Extension of Time for Registration Appointment of Receiver or Manager Copies of Instruments Company's Register of Charges Right to Inspect Instrument Copies Application of Part III Registered Office of Company Publication of Name of Company Adequacy of Certain Descriptions Register of Members Company Statement Index of Members of Company Entries in Register to Share Warrants Inspection of Register of Members Failure to Comply with Requirements Power to Close Register of Members Power of Court to Rectify Register Trusts not Entered on Register Register to be Evidence Keeping Branch Register Regulations as to Branch Register Registers of Oversea Companies Company Annual Return General Provisions: Annual Returns Certificates Sent by Private Company Annual General Meeting Extraordinary General Meeting Notice for Calling Meetings Meetings and Votes Quorum: One Company Member Power of Court to Order Meeting Proxies Right to Demand a Poll Voting on a Poll Representation of Companies Circulation of Members' Resolutions Special Resolutions Restriction on Alteration of Articles Written Resolutions of Companies Duty to Notify Auditors Written Resolutions: Supplementary Written Record Resolutions Requiring Special Notice Certain Resolutions and Agreements Resolutions at Adjourned Meetings Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings Place to Keep Minute Book Inspection of Minute Books Keeping of Books of Account Profit and Loss Account Contents and Form of Accounts Obligation to Lay Group Accounts Form of Group Accounts Contents of Group Accounts Financial Year of Holding Company Particulars in Relation to Subsidiaries Companies not being Subsidiaries Subsidiary Company's Accounts Signing of Balance Sheet Accounts and Auditors' Report Directors' Report Proviso to Section 141C Sections 129D and 129E Right to Receive Copies Appointment & Removal of Auditors Supplementary Provisions Powers of Auditors False Statements to Auditors Disqualifications: Auditor Appointment Resignation of Auditor Right of Auditor who Resigns Auditor's Report and Rights Construction of References Restrictions on Financial Reports Notices of Intent Relevant Dates Duties of Listed Companies Financial Reports not to be Sent Form and Contents of Reports Prohibition Orders Compliance with Section 129G Requirements as to Accounts Investigation of Company Affairs Company Affairs in Other Cases Power of an Inspector Documents on Investigation Delegation of Powers by Inspector Power to Call for Director's Accounts Inspector's Report Extension of Secretary's Powers Proceedings on Inspector's Report Expenses of Investigation Inspector's Report to be Evidence
Chapter: 32  COMPANIES ORDINANCE

Section Num: 123     Version Date 01/12/2005

General provisions as to contents and form of accounts

(1) Every balance sheet of a company shall give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of its financial year, and every profit and loss account of a company shall give a true and fair view of the profit or loss of the company for the financial year.

(2) A company's balance sheet and profit and loss account shall comply with the requirements of the Tenth Schedule, so far as applicable thereto.

(3) Save as expressly provided in Part III of the Tenth Schedule, the requirements of subsection (2) and the said Schedule shall be without prejudice either to the general requirements of subsection (1) or to any other requirements of this Ordinance.  (Amended 12 of 2005 s. 4)

(4) Where compliance with the requirements of the Tenth Schedule and other requirements of this Ordinance as to the matters to be included in a company's balance sheet and profit and loss account or in a statement annexed to those accounts-

(a) would not be sufficient to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs or the profit or loss of the company; or

(b) is inconsistent with the requirement to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs or the profit or loss of the company, then-

(c) in the case of paragraph (a), additional information that is necessary to give a true and fair view thereof shall be given in the accounts or statement, as the case may require; and

(d) in the case of paragraph (b), the directors of the company shall depart from those requirements to the extent that is necessary to give a true and fair view thereof with the reasons for and particulars and effects of such departure to be given in the accounts or in a statement annexed to those accounts.  (Replaced 12 of 2005 s. 4)

(5) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to a company's profit and loss account if-

(a) the company has subsidiaries; and

(b) the profit and loss account is framed as a consolidated profit and loss account dealing with all or any of the company's subsidiaries as well as the company and-

(i) complies with the requirements of this Ordinance relating to consolidated profit and loss accounts; and

(ii) shows how much of the consolidated profit or loss for the financial year is dealt with in the accounts of the company.

(6) If any person being a director of a company fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance as respects any accounts laid before the company in general meeting with the provisions of this section and with the other requirements of this Ordinance as to the matters to be stated in accounts, he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable to imprisonment and a fine:  (Amended 7 of 1990 s. 2)

Provided that-

(a) in any proceedings against a person in respect of an offence under this section, it shall be a defence to prove that he had reasonable ground to believe and did believe that a competent and reliable person was charged with the duty of seeing that the said provisions or the said other requirements, as the case may be, were complied with and was in a position to discharge that duty; and

(b) a person shall not be sentenced to imprisonment for any such offence unless, in the opinion of the court dealing with the case, the offence was committed wilfully.

(7) For the purposes of this section and the following provisions of this Ordinance, except where the context otherwise requires,-

(a) any reference to a balance sheet or profit and loss account shall include any notes thereon or document annexed thereto giving information which is required by this Ordinance and is thereby allowed to be so given; and

(b) any reference to a profit and loss account shall be taken, in the case of a company not trading for profit, as referring to its income and expenditure account, and references to profit or to loss and, if the company has subsidiaries, references to a consolidated profit and loss account shall be construed accordingly.

(Replaced 80 of 1974 s. 12)

[cf. 1948 c. 38 s. 149 U.K.]

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