Implementation of the Companies Act 2006 was completed on 1 October 2009. The articles, guides and links on this page provide further information and guidance on the legislation.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Useful links
The Act
The Companies Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 8 November 2006.
The full text of the Companies Act 2006 was published in PDF format on the OPSI website within the list of Public Acts of the UK Parliament 2006 on 7 December 2006. The complete act is available in HTML and PDF versions. The PDF version is available to download as follows:
The website of the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) also provides:
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Table Of Destinations - this table (PDF 156kb) 'identifies the provisions of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) that are repealed and re-enacted (with or without changes) by the Companies Act 2006 and identifies the corresponding provisions in that Act.'
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Table Of Origins - this table (PDF 181kb) 'shows the origin of the company law provisions of the Companies Act 2006 by reference to the enactments in force on the date that Act received Royal Assent'
The UK Statute Law Database provides an updated version of the Companies Act 2006.
Secondary Legislation
The BIS website provides a selection of links to related secondary legislation that has either been enacted or exists in draft form for consultation. This includes regulations for model articles, business names and share capital:
The OPSI website also includes the following regulations (as enacted):
Implementation
The implementation of the Companies Act 2006 was completed on 1 October 2009.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Following the release of the timetable for implementation the department published a series of checklists, which are now available through the BIS website. These checklists are designed to help businesses make the transition, including:
The department has also published Guidance for UK Companies on accounting and reporting: Requirements under the Companies Act 2006 and the application of the IAS regulation (June 2008) and Companies Act 2006 final implementation – changes to constitutional documents, including model articles: a summary of what the new approach means.
The BIS also maintains an FAQ on the Companies Act 2006.
Companies House
The Companies House website includes information on the Companies Acts which includes news, answers to frequently asked questions, information on the implementation of the Companies Act 2006 and a selection of Companies Act publications.
The website includes a page on Table A which provides the latest versions of Table A (in PDF format) for private companies and public companies. Earlier versions of Table A are also provided on the Companies House website.
The Companies House website provides the wording for model articles under Companies Act 2006 (in Word format) which covers:
- Model articles for private companies limited by shares
- Model articles for private companies limited by guarantee
- Model articles for public companies
ICAEW
Updates on company law and related issues are available from the Legal and regulatory section of the ICAEW website.
Other institutes and professional bodies
Companies Act 2006 (ICSA)
The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) have published a microsite focused on the Companies Act 2006 which includes ICSA commentary and guidance on the act and a selection of full text articles from Chartered Secretary.
ICSA Guidance on Access to the Register of Members: Proper Purpose Test
Updated version of the ICSA guidance note on proper purpose issued on 21 January 2009. The Companies Act 2006 makes access to a company's register of members subject to a 'proper purpose' test.
Related material
Legal Briefings
International law firm Travers Smith published a series of briefings in April 2007 focusing on the key changes introduced by the Companies Act 2006. The briefings include:
Companies Act 2006
A seven page briefing published by international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer on the Companies Act 2006 in November 2006. The briefing is available through the publications section of the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer website.
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
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