Companies Act 2014 section 233

Power of court to grant relief to officers of company

Section 233 deals with the court's power to relieve company officers from liability where they have been accused of negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust, provided they acted honestly and reasonably.

• The section applies to any proceedings against a company officer for negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust.
• The court may grant relief where the officer acted honestly and reasonably and, in all the circumstances, ought fairly to be excused.
• Relief may be granted in whole or in part, on whatever terms the court considers appropriate.
• The requirement for honesty and reasonableness is a mandatory threshold — without meeting both conditions, the court cannot exercise its discretion to grant relief.