Companies Act (Cap. 386), article 420

420. (1) No information or document relating to an entity as is referred to in article 418(1) which has been obtained under the said article 418 or article 419 shall, without the previous consent in writing of that entity, be publis hed or disclosed, unless the publication or disclosure is required - (a) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any criminal proceedings pursuant to, or arising out of, this A ct or any other law; (b) for the purposes of the examination of any person by inspectors appointed under this Part in the course of their investigation; Cap. 403. Cap. 330. Cap. 345. Cap. 476. Cap. 370. Cap. 371. Cap. 376. (c) for the purpose of enabling the responsible Minister, the Registrar or the competent authority to exercise, in relation to the entity or any other entity, any of their functions under this Act, the Insurance Business Act , the Malta Financial Services Authority Act , the Financial Markets Act , the Prevention of Financial Markets Abuse Act , the Investment Services Ac t, the Banking Act and the Financial Institutions Act ; (d) for the purposes of pro ceedings under article 419. (2) A person who publishes or discloses any information or document in contravention of this article shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine ( multa ) of not more than forty-six thousand and five hundred and eighty-seven euro (€46, 587), or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both such fine ( multa) and imprisonment. (3) For the purposes of this article "competent authority" shall mean - (a) the Central Bank of Malta; Cap. 370. (b) the competent authority under the Investment Services Act; Cap. 403. (c) an inspector appointed under the Insurance Business Act; Cap. 371. (d) an inspector appointed under the Banking Act ; Cap. 330. (e) the Malta Financial Services Authority carrying out its functions under the Malta Financial Services Authority Act; Cap. 345. (f) the regulated market carrying out its functions under the Financial Markets Act ; and Cap. 376. (g) the competent authority under the Financial Institutions Act . Punishment for destroying, mutilating, etc., company documents. Amended by: L.N. 425 of 2007; XVIII.2025.54.