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Section 446B: Direction to terminate investigation

Companies Act 1985 · 1985 c. 6View on legislation.gov.uk

Part XIV: Investigation of Companies and Their Affairs; Requisition of Documents

The Secretary of State may direct an inspector to take no further steps in his investigation.

The Secretary of State may give a direction under this section to an inspector appointed under section 432(1) or 442(3) only on the grounds that it appears to him that—

matters have come to light in the course of the inspector's investigation which suggest that a criminal offence has been committed, and
those matters have been referred to the appropriate prosecuting authority.

Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, any direction already given to the inspector under section 437(1) to produce an interim report, and any direction given to him under section 446A(3) in relation to such a report, shall cease to have effect.

Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, the inspector shall not make a final report to the Secretary of State unless—

the direction was made on the grounds mentioned in subsection (2) and the Secretary of State directs the inspector to make a final report to him, or
the inspector was appointed under section 432(1) (appointment in pursuance of order of the court).

An inspector shall comply with any direction given to him under this section.

In this section, a reference to an inspector's investigation includes any investigation he undertakes, or could undertake, under section 433(1) (power to investigate affairs of holding company or subsidiary).

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.