Companies Act 2006 - 1 October 2009

 

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The following will commence on 1 October 2009:

 

Provision CA 2006 reference Brief outline
General introductory provisions, company formation and constitution Part 1 and 2

ss 1-16

The memorandum of association will be a document of historical status only showing membership of the company at formation. Objects (if any) will be included in the articles. It will still be possible to entrench certain articles. The requirement for authorised share capital will also be abolished and a statement of capital and initial shareholdings will need to be delivered to the Registrar on application for registration of a new company
Company constitution

Part 3

ss 17-38

Confirms that the constitution of a company will be contractually binding on the company and its members. The constitution includes the articles (and the memorandum of association for existing companies) and certain resolutions and agreements
Company capacity and related matters

Part 4

ss 39-52

 

Contains rules governing execution of documents
Company's name

Part 5

ss 53-85

Companies will also be able to provide in the articles for a procedure for change of name. See also 1.10.2008 changes
Registered office Part 6

ss 86-88

Includes requirements to maintain a registered office
Re-registration in order to change company status

Part 7

ss 89-111

Includes procedure to change status of company by re-registering including new power for a public company to re-register as an unlimited private company without first registering as a private limited company
Company's members Part 8

ss 112-144

Provides that subscribers are members even if not on register and includes new rules regarding requests to inspect register. The period of time for past members to remain on the register will be reduced to ten years and time limit for claims for entries in the register will also be reduced to ten years
Directors Part 10

ss 162 – 167 and 240 - 247 (but see 1.10.2007 changes)

Directors will be able to use service addresses - a register of residential addresses must be kept but this will no longer be publicly available
Share capital Part 17

ss 540-657

(but see 1.10.2008 changes)

Contains rules on changes to share capital. These must be notified to the registrar by filing a new statement of capital. Alteration of share capital of a limited company must take place in accordance with procedure in Parts 17 and 18. These provisions also include a new procedure for redenomination of share capital
Acquisition of own shares by limited company

Part 18

ss 658-737

Contains prohibition on a public company giving financial assistance for the purchase of its shares and rules on purchase of own shares
Annual return Part 24

ss 854-859

Contains rules on filing and contents of the annual return
Company charges Part 25

ss 860-894

Contains rules on maintaining the register of charges no significant changes although Secretary of State has power to make new information sharing regulations
Dissolution and restoration to the register Part 31

ss 1000-1034

New administrative procedures for restoring a company to the register
UK companies not formed under the Companies Acts Part 33

ss 1040-1043

New regulation-making powers for the Secretary of State regarding registration and reporting requirements for overseas companies
Overseas companies Part 34

ss 1044-1059

See Part 33 above
The Registrar of Companies Part 35

ss 1060-1120

Contains core functions of the Registrar
Business names Part 41

ss 1192-1208

Contains rules on the use of business names

 

For more information, please contact Kath Shimmin, head of Blake Lapthorn's Finance group on 023 8085 7081; email kath.shimmin@bllaw.co.uk