(1) The Bank may carry out such inquiries and obtain such information as it considers necessary to enable it to consider the proposed acquiring transaction.
(2) Where the provisions of section 77 apply, the Minister may require the Bank to carry out such inquiries and provide him with such information as he considers necessary to enable him to decide to give or not to give his consent for the purposes of that section.
(3) Any person who wilfully and knowingly impedes the Bank's inquiries under this section or provides false or misleading information shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable -
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both.