FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT 1992 (c. 40)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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6 (1) An incorporated friendly society may in the manner prescribed by its rules alter the memorandum or rules of the society by the addition, rescission or variation of any provision.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to any alteration to which section 13(6) above applies or which is prohibited by paragraph 4(2) above.

(3) An alteration to the name or registered office of an incorporated friendly society shall (instead of being effected under this paragraph) be effected under paragraph 9 or 12 below; and it is not necessary to alter the memorandum or rules of such a society by reason only that its name or registered office is changed.

(4) Where a society makes an alteration of its memorandum or rules under this paragraph, it shall send to the central office--

(a) 3 copies of a record of the alteration signed by the secretary; and

(b) a statutory declaration by the secretary that the alteration was made in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the society's rules.

(5) On making an alteration of its memorandum or rules under this paragraph the society shall determine the date on which it intends the alteration to take effect; and the record of the alteration shall specify that date (in this paragraph referred to as "the specified date").

(6) Where copies of a record of an alteration of a society's memorandum or rules are sent to the central office under sub-paragraph (4) above and the central office is satisfied that the alteration is in conformity with this Act, the central office shall--

(a) retain and register one of the copies;

(b) return another to the secretary of the society together with a certificate of registration of the alteration; and

(c) keep another copy, together with a copy of the certificate of registration of the alteration, in the public file of the society.

(7) An alteration of the memorandum or rules of a society under this paragraph shall not take effect until the specified date or, if the alteration is registered under sub-paragraph (6) above on a later date, the date on which the certificate of registration is issued.

(8) If an incorporated friendly society arranges for the publication in consolidated form of its memorandum or rules as altered for the time being--

(a) it shall send a copy to the central office; and

(b) the central office shall keep the copy in the public file of the society;

but the central office shall not register the copy.

(9) If an incorporated friendly society fails, within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which an alteration to its memorandum or rules is made, to comply with sub-paragraph (4) above, the society shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Membership

7 A person under 18--

(a) may, if the rules do not otherwise provide, be admitted as a member of an incorporated friendly society and, if he is over 16 by himself, and if he is under 16 by his parent or guardian, execute all instruments and give all receipts necessary to be executed or given under the rules;

(b) may not vote or hold any office in the society; and

(c) may not nominate, or join in nominating, a person for election as a member of the committee of management, or (if the secretary is elected) as secretary, of the society.

Liability of members

8 (1) The liability of a member of an incorporated friendly society is limited to the amount of any subscription to the society which is outstanding.

(2) No subscription of a member of an incorporated friendly society shall be recoverable at law except on the winding up of the society.

Name

9 (1) The name of an incorporated friendly society must have "Limited" as its last word, except that, if the society is to be registered with a memorandum stating that its registered office is to be situated in Wales, the name may have "cyfyngedig" (the Welsh equivalent of "Limited") as its last word.

(2) The name of an incorporated friendly society which is a collecting society must have "Collecting Society Limited" as its last three words, except that if the society is registered with a memorandum stating that its registered office is to be situated in Wales, the name may have "Cymdeithas Casglu Cyfyngedig" as its last three words.

(3) If the society has a common seal, it shall bear the registered name of the society.

(4) An incorporated friendly society may change its name by a resolution of the society in general meeting after the giving of such notice as is required for a special resolution.

(5) Where a society changes its name under this paragraph, notice of the change shall be sent to the central office and, unless it is of the opinion that the changed name is undesirable, the central office shall--

(a) register the notice of the change of name;

(b) issue the society with a certificate of registration; and

(6) A change of name shall not take effect until the date on which the certificate of registration under sub-paragraph (5) above is issued or such later date as may be specified in the certificate.

(7) A change of name shall not affect the rights and obligations of the society, of any of its members or of any other person concerned.

10 (1) Every incorporated friendly society shall have its name mentioned in legible characters--

(a) in all its business letters, its notices and its other official publications;

(b) in all its bills of parcels, invoices, receipts and letters of credit; and

(c) in all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the society.

(2) Where the name of an incorporated friendly society does not include the words "friendly society", the fact that it is an incorporated friendly society shall be shown in legible characters in all documents such as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above.

Offences relating to society's name

11 (1) If an incorporated friendly society--

(a) fails, within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which a resolution changing its name is passed, to send to the central office the notice required by paragraph 9(5) above; or

(b) fails to comply with paragraph 10(1) or (2) above;

the society shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) If an officer of an incorporated friendly society or a person on its behalf--

(a) issues or authorises the issue of any business letter, notice or other official publication of the society or any bill of parcels, invoice, receipt or letter of credit of the society in which the society's name is not mentioned as required by paragraph 10(1) above; or

(b) signs or authorises to be signed on behalf of the society any bill of exchange, promissory note, endorsement, cheque or order for money or goods in which the society's name is not so mentioned,

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale; and, in the case of the conduct mentioned in paragraph (b) above, he is further personally liable to the holder of the bill of exchange, promissory note, cheque or order for money or goods for the amount of it (unless it is duly paid by the society).

(3) If an officer of an incorporated friendly society whose name does not include the words "friendly society" or a person on its behalf--

(a) issues or authorises the issue of any such document as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(a) above, and the fact that it is an incorporated friendly society is not shown in legible characters in the document; or

(b) signs or authorises to be signed on behalf of the society any such document as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(b) above, and the fact that it is an incorporated friendly society is not shown in legible characters in the document,

Change of registered office

12 (1) An incorporated friendly society may change its registered office in such manner as its rules prescribe or, if the rules do not provide for that matter, by a resolution of the society in general meeting after the giving of such notice as is required for a special resolution.

(2) Notice of any such change shall be sent to the central office and the central office shall--

(a) register the notice of the change of registered office;

(b) issue the society with a certificate of registration; and

(3) A change of registered office shall not take effect until the date on which the certificate of registration under sub-paragraph (2) above is issued or such later date as may be specified in the certificate.

(4) If an incorporated friendly society fails, within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which a resolution changing its registered office is passed, to send to the central office the notice required by sub-paragraph (2) above, the society shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Societies to supply copies of rules etc

13 (1) An incorporated friendly society shall, on demand, give a copy of its statutory documents--

(a) free of charge, to any member of the society to whom a copy of those documents has not previously been given; and

(b) to any other person, upon payment of such fee as the society may require, not exceeding the prescribed amount.

(2) The reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to a copy of an incorporated friendly society's statutory documents is a reference to--

(a) a printed copy of the society's rules for the time being, with a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the society annexed to it; and

(b) a printed copy of the memorandum of the society for the time being.

(3) If an incorporated friendly society fails to comply with the requirements of sub-paragraph (1) above, the society shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1) above the "prescribed amount" means £1 or such other amount as the Commission prescribes by order.

Register of members

14 (1) Every incorporated friendly society shall maintain a register of the names and addresses of the members of the society.

(2) The register shall be kept at the registered office or at such other place or places as the committee of management thinks fit.

(3) A society which was previously a registered friendly society need not enter in the register the address of a member who became a member before its incorporation while it has no address for him and his whereabouts are unknown.

(4) Where it appears to an incorporated friendly society that the registered address shown in the register for a member is no longer current, the society--

(a) may remove that address from the register; and

(b) need not enter in the register an address for that member while it has no address for him and his whereabouts are unknown.

(5) If an incorporated friendly society contravenes sub-paragraph (1) above, the society shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(6) For the purposes of this Act "registered address", in relation to a member of an incorporated friendly society, means--

(a) the address shown in the register mentioned under this paragraph, except in a case where paragraph (b) below applies;

(b) where the member has requested that communications from the society be sent to some other address, that other address.

Inspection of records by members

15 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a member or person having an interest in the funds of an incorporated friendly society may inspect the records at all reasonable hours at the registered office of the society or at any other place where they are kept.

(2) Unless he is an officer of the society or is specially authorised by resolution of the society to do so, a member or such a person shall not have the right to inspect the loan account of any other member without the written consent of that member.

Section 6.

SCHEDULE 4 Incorporation of Registered Friendly Societies: Supplementary

Preliminary

1 (1) This Schedule has effect in relation to an incorporated friendly society ("the incorporated society") which was formerly a registered friendly society ("the registered society"); and in this Schedule "incorporation" means the incorporation of that society.

(2) In this Schedule "branch", in relation to the registered society, means any registered or unregistered branch of the society and, in relation to the incorporated society, means a group of members provided for by the rules of the society--

(a) which is under the control, and bound to contribute to the funds, of the society; and

(b) which has its own funds and other property vested in trustees and administered (in accordance with its rules) by the members of the group themselves, or through its own committee or other officers.

(3) In this Schedule references to an agreement include references to any agreement (whether in writing or not) and any deed, bond or other instrument.

(4) Nothing in section 6 above or this Schedule shall be taken as affecting any power or liability of a branch of a registered friendly society to secede or to be expelled from that society.

Schemes under section 6(5)

2 (1) This paragraph applies to a registered society with branches which proposes--

(a) that the incorporated society will have branches; and

(b) that any of those branches is to be treated as a continuation of a branch of the registered society.

(2) The registered society may, by the procedure required to amend the rules of the society, approve a scheme under subsection (5) of section 6 above (a "scheme") identifying property, rights and liabilities of a branch which are to continue to be property, rights and liabilities of the branch (as a branch of the incorporated society) and so are to be excluded from transfer under subsection (4) of that section.

(3) A scheme--

(a) may deal with property, rights and liabilities of one or more branches of the registered society; and

(b) may, instead of specifying any property, rights and liabilities of a branch of the registered society, refer to all the property, rights and liabilities referable to such part of its activities as is specified in the scheme.

(4) A scheme may not identify for exclusion from transfer under section 6(4) above any property, rights or liabilities of a branch of the registered society which are referable only to an activity of the branch which a branch of the incorporated society would (by virtue of section 7(5) above) be unable to carry on on its own behalf.

(5) On making a scheme the registered society shall send to the central office--

(a) 4 copies of the scheme, each signed by the secretary;

(b) a statutory declaration by the secretary that the scheme was duly approved by the society;

(c) in the case of a scheme identifying any property, rights or liabilities of a branch which was (immediately before incorporation) carrying on any insurance or non-insurance business, a certificate from the appropriate actuary that the incorporated society will, on incorporation, possess sufficient assets to meet such of the liabilities to be transferred to the society from that branch as are referable to that business.

(6) On receiving copies of a scheme, the central office shall, if satisfied that the society has duly approved the scheme--

(a) retain and register one copy of the scheme;

(b) return another copy to the secretary of the registered society, together with a certificate of registration;

(c) keep another copy in the public file of the registered society and, after incorporation, in the public file of the incorporated society;

and the central office shall not register the incorporated society under this Act until after it has registered the scheme.

Effect of incorporation on registered society

3 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the incorporated society shall be treated after incorporation as the same person as the registered society.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above, any agreement made, transaction effected or other thing done by, to or in relation to the registered society which is in force or effective immediately before incorporation shall have effect as if made, effected or done by, to or in relation to the incorporated society; and, accordingly, references to the society--

(a) in any agreement;

(b) in any process or other document issued, prepared or employed for the purposes of any proceeding before any court or other tribunal or authority; and

(c) in any other document whatsoever (other than an enactment) relating to or affecting any property, right or liability of the society,

shall be taken as referring to the incorporated society.

4 On incorporation of the registered society--

(a) a person who was immediately before incorporation a member of the registered society shall be a member of the incorporated society;

(b) any appointment as trustee or treasurer of the society shall determine; and

(c) all other persons who were officers of the registered society shall become officers, holding corresponding offices, of the incorporated society;

but paragraph (c) above is without prejudice to anything done by the society after incorporation as respects the election or appointment of members of its committee of management and its other officers.

5 Any agreement made by the registered society which is in force immediately before incorporation shall have effect as if--

(a) for references to members of the registered society there were substituted references to members of the incorporated society;

(b) for references to officers of the registered society (other than its trustees or treasurer) there were substituted references to the corresponding officers of the incorporated society;

(c) for references to the trustees of the registered society there were substituted references to the incorporated society; and

(d) for references to the treasurer of the registered society there were substituted references to such person as the incorporated society may appoint or in default of appointment to the officer of that society who corresponds as nearly as may be to the treasurer.

6 It is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that--

(a) any contract of employment with the registered society in force immediately before incorporation is merely modified by the substitution of the name of the incorporated society as the employer (and is not terminated or varied in any other way);

(b) any period of employment with the registered society shall count for all purposes as a period of employment with the incorporated society; and

(c) the rights and liabilities referred to in section 6 above include any rights and liabilities subsisting immediately before incorporation--

(i) under any agreement or arrangement for the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities; or

(ii) under the law of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom.

7 (1) The final financial year of the registered friendly society shall be such period not exceeding 12 months as expires immediately before its incorporation.

(2) Anything which, if it had not been incorporated, would be required to be done by the registered society at a time after its incorporation shall be done by the incorporated society.

(3) If the incorporated friendly society fails to do anything which it is required to do by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) above, the society and its officers shall be subject to the sanctions to which the registered friendly society and its officers would have been subject if the society had failed to do it.

Effect of incorporation on branches of registered society

8 (1) This paragraph applies where the property, rights and liabilities of a branch of the registered society ("the branch") are all transferred to the incorporated society by section 6(4) above.

(2) The provisions of paragraphs 3 to 7 above shall apply in relation to the branch as they apply in relation to the registered society--

(a) with the omission from paragraph 4 of the words following "shall determine"; and

(b) in paragraph 5, with the substitution for references to the members, officers, trustees or treasurer of the society of references to the corresponding officers of the branch;

and the branch shall be deemed to be dissolved immediately after the transfer of its property, rights and liabilities to the incorporated society.

9 (1) This paragraph applies where the property, rights and liabilities of a branch of the registered society are all excluded by virtue of a scheme from transfer to the incorporated society.

(2) On incorporation of the registered society, the property, rights and liabilities of the branch shall continue as property, rights and liabilities of the branch (as a branch of the incorporated society).

(3) The branch of the incorporated society shall be treated as a continuation of the branch of the registered society; and so on incorporation--

(a) any member of the branch shall continue as a member; and

(b) any trustee, treasurer or other officer of the branch immediately before incorporation shall continue in office;

but paragraphs (a) and (b) above are without prejudice to anything done after incorporation as respects the membership and officers of the branch.

10 (1) This paragraph applies where some of the property, rights and liabilities of a branch of the registered society are transferred to the incorporated society by section 6(4) above and some are excluded from transfer by virtue of a scheme.

(2) As respects the property, rights and liabilities transferred from the branch to the incorporated society, the provisions of paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 7 above shall apply in relation to the branch as they apply in relation to the registered society--

(a) with, in paragraph 5, the substitution for references to the members, officers, trustees or treasurer of the society of references to the corresponding officers of the branch; and

(b) with the omission of paragraph 7(1).

(3) On incorporation of the registered society, the property, rights and liabilities of the branch which are excluded from transfer shall continue as property, rights and liabilities of the branch (as a branch of the incorporated society).

(4) As respects the property, rights and liabilities so excluded, the branch shall, after incorporation of the registered society, be treated as a continuation of the branch of the registered society; and so on incorporation--

(a) any member of the branch shall continue as a member; and

(b) any trustee, treasurer or other officer of the branch shall continue in office;

but paragraphs (a) and (b) above are without prejudice to anything done after incorporation as respects membership and officers of the branch.

Consequences of transfer

11 No transfer effected by section 6 above shall give rise to any liability to stamp duty.

12 (1) The action mentioned in the following provisions of this paragraph shall be taken not later than the end of the period of 90 days beginning with the day on which the registered society is incorporated.

(2) The persons who were the trustees and treasurer of the registered society immediately before its incorporation shall deliver to the incorporated society--

(a) any property of the society held by them; and

(b) any documents relating to the property, rights and liabilities of the registered society or its financial affairs.

(3) The persons who were the trustees and treasurer of any branch of the registered society immediately before its incorporation shall deliver to the incorporated society--

(a) any property (formerly property of the branch) which is transferred to the society by section 6(4) above; and

(b) any documents relating to such of the property, rights or liabilities of the branch as are so transferred.

(4) The Public Trustee shall, if he held property on trust for the registered society immediately before its incorporation, deliver to the incorporated society any property so held by him and any documents relating to it.

(5) Nothing in this Act shall have effect to relieve the former trustees or treasurer of a registered friendly society or branch or the Public Trustee from any liability arising from acts or omissions before the incorporation of the society.

Section 7.

SCHEDULE 5 Additional Activities of Incorporated Societies

Introductory

1 An incorporated friendly society may do anything mentioned in the following provisions of this Schedule in the manner directed by the society's rules.

Loans out of separate loan fund

2 (1) An incorporated friendly society may, out of any separate loan fund to be formed by contributions or deposits from its members, make loans to members on their personal security, with or without sureties or, in Scotland, cautioners, subject to the restrictions in sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) below.

(2) A loan shall not at any time be made out of money contributed otherwise than for the purpose of the loan fund.

(3) A member shall not be capable of holding any interest in the loan fund exceeding £800.

(4) The society shall not--

(a) make any loan to a member on personal security beyond the amount fixed by the rules, or make any loan which, together with any money owing by a member to the society, exceeds £200; or

(b) hold at any one time on deposit from its members any money beyond the amount fixed by the rules, and the amount so fixed shall not exceed two thirds of the total sums owing to the society by the members who have borrowed from the loan fund.

(5) The Commission may by order made with the consent of the Treasury amend sub-paragraph (3) or (4) above to substitute, for the sum for the time being specified in that sub-paragraph, such greater sum as is specified in the order.

Power to set up funds for purchasing Government Securities

3 (1) An incorporated friendly society may set up and administer a fund for the purchase, on behalf of members contributing thereto, of Defence Bonds, National Savings Certificates, Ulster Savings Certificates or such other securities of Her Majesty's Government as the Commission may prescribe.

(2) A society may allow persons to become members of the society for the purpose only of contributing to a fund set up by virtue of this paragraph.

(3) Any securities prescribed, before the commencement of this paragraph, for the purposes of section 47 of the 1974 Act shall be treated as having been prescribed under sub-paragraph (1) above.

Investment of funds in housing association

4 (1) An incorporated friendly society may invest funds of the society in subscribing for any of the share or loan capital of a housing association (within the meaning of the Housing Associations Act 1985) other than shares or debentures not fully paid up at the time of issue.

(2) This paragraph has effect without prejudice to any power the society may have by virtue of section 14 above.

Accumulation of members' surplus contributions

5 An incorporated friendly society may accumulate at interest, for the use of any member, any surplus of his contributions to the funds of the society which may remain after providing for any assurance in respect of which they are paid and for the withdrawal of the accumulations.

Subscriptions to other bodies

6 An incorporated friendly society may subscribe out of its funds to any hospital, infirmary, charitable or provident institution, any annual or other sum which may be necessary to secure to members of the society and their families the benefits of that institution.

7 An incorporated friendly society may contribute to the funds and take part in the government of any other friendly society.

Section 7.

SCHEDULE 6 Making of Contracts and Execution of Documents by Incorporated Friendly Societies

England and Wales and Northern Ireland

1 Under the law of England and Wales and Northern Ireland a contract may be made--

(a) by an incorporated friendly society, by writing under its common seal; or

(b) on behalf of an incorporated friendly society, by any person acting under its authority, express or implied;

and any formalities required by law in the case of a contract made by an individual also apply, unless a contrary intention appears, to a contract made by or on behalf of an incorporated friendly society.

2 (1) The following provisions have effect with respect to the execution of documents by an incorporated friendly society under the law of England and Wales and of Northern Ireland.

(2) A document is executed by an incorporated friendly society by the affixing of its common seal.

(3) An incorporated friendly society need not have a common seal, however, and the following sub-paragraphs apply whether it does or not.

(4) A document signed by a member of the committee of management and the secretary of an incorporated friendly society, or by 2 members of the committee of management, and expressed (in whatever form of words) to be executed by the society has the same effect as if executed under the common seal of the society.

(5) A document executed by an incorporated friendly society which makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed has effect, upon delivery, as a deed; and it shall be presumed, unless a contrary intention is proved, to be delivered upon its being so executed.

(6) In favour of a purchaser a document shall be deemed to have been duly executed by an incorporated friendly society if it purports to be signed by a member of the committee of management and the secretary of the society, or by 2 members of the committee of management, and, where it makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to be a deed, to have been delivered upon its being executed.

(7) In sub-paragraph (6) above a "purchaser" means a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and includes a lessee, mortgagee or other person who for valuable consideration acquires an interest in property.

Scotland

3 (1) The following provisions have effect with respect to the execution of documents by an incorporated friendly society under the law of Scotland.

(2) For any purpose other than those mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) below, a document is validly executed by an incorporated friendly society if it is signed on behalf of the society by a member of the committee of management or by the secretary of the society or by a person authorised to sign the document on its behalf.

(3) For the purposes of any enactment or rule of law relating to the authentication of documents under the law of Scotland, a document is validly executed by an incorporated friendly society if it is subscribed on behalf of the society by--

(a) 2 members of the committee of management of the society;

(b) a member of that committee and the secretary of the society; or

notwithstanding that such subscription is not attested by witnesses and the document is not sealed with the society's common seal.

(4) A document which bears to be executed by an incorporated friendly society in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) above is, in relation to such execution, a probative document.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, an incorporated friendly society need not have a common seal.

(6) For the purposes of any enactment providing for a document to be executed by an incorporated friendly society by affixing its common seal or referring (in whatever terms) to a document so executed, a document signed or subscribed on behalf of the society by--

(a) 2 members of the committee of management of the society;

(b) a member of the committee and the secretary of the society; or

shall have effect as if executed under the common seal of the society.

(7) In this paragraph "enactment" includes an enactment contained in a statutory instrument.

(8) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) above are--

(a) without prejudice to any other method of execution of documents by incorporated friendly societies permitted by any enactment or rule of law; and

(b) subject to any other enactment making express provision, in relation to incorporated friendly societies, as to the execution of a particular type of document.

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