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Section 679: Assistance by public company for acquisition of shares in its private holding company

Companies Act 2006 · 2006 c. 46View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 18: Acquisition by limited company of its own shares — Chapter 2: Financial assistance for purchase of own shares

Where a person is acquiring or proposing to acquire shares in a private company, it is not lawful for a public company that is a subsidiary of that company to give financial assistance directly or indirectly for the purpose of the acquisition before or at the same time as the acquisition takes place.

Subsection (1) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in its holding company if—

the company's principal purpose in giving the assistance is not to give it for the purpose of any such acquisition, or
the giving of the assistance for that purpose is only an incidental part of some larger purpose of the company,

and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests of the company.

Where—

a person has acquired shares in a private company, and
a liability has been incurred (by that or another person) for the purpose of the acquisition,

it is not lawful for a public company that is a subsidiary of that company to give financial assistance directly or indirectly for the purpose of reducing or discharging the liability.

Subsection (3) does not prohibit a company from giving financial assistance if—

the company's principal purpose in giving the assistance is not to reduce or discharge any liability incurred by a person for the purpose of the acquisition of shares in its holding company, or
the reduction or discharge of any such liability is only an incidental part of some larger purpose of the company,

and the assistance is given in good faith in the interests of the company.

This section has effect subject to sections 681 and 682 (unconditional and conditional exceptions to prohibition).

About this text

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.