Section 176 — Interconnected bodies corporate

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a court makes a consumer protection order against a body corporate (“the respondent”), and

(b) the interconnection condition applies in relation to the respondent.

(2) The interconnection condition applies in relation to the respondent if—

(a) at the time the order is made the respondent is a member of a group of interconnected bodies corporate,

(b) at any time when the order is in force the respondent becomes a member of a group of interconnected bodies corporate, or

(c) at any time when the order is in force a group of interconnected bodies corporate of which the respondent is a member is increased by the addition of one or more further members.

(3) The order may include provision for the requirements (or any particular requirements) imposed by the order to be binding upon all other members of the group (in addition to the respondent) as if each of them were the respondent.

(4) Provision may be included in an order under subsection (3) only if the court considers it just, reasonable and proportionate to include that provision.

(5) A group of interconnected bodies corporate is a group consisting of two or more bodies corporate all of whom are interconnected with each other.

(6) Any two bodies corporate are interconnected—

(a) if one of them is a subsidiary of the other, or

(b) if both of them are subsidiaries of the same body corporate.

(7) Where an order includes provision under subsection (3), a copy of the order must be given to any other member of the respondent’s group in relation to which the requirements imposed by the order are to be binding.