Other changes to company law

SBEE introduced other significant changes to company law, with the following implementation dates.

Further information on these, and certain other changes, is available from BEIS from this link.

In force before 1 January 2016: abolition of bearer shares (with existing bearer shares to be surrendered by 26 February 2016); extension of duties of shadow directors; shortened periods for striking off companies; new procedure for consent to act as officer; simplification of the statement of capital; new offences to cover disqualification for certain convictions abroad and disqualification of persons instructing unfit directors.

6 April 2016: PSC register (see above); new procedures for rectification of Company House registers relating to a company's registered office and directors (where there is a dispute).

30 June 2016:  requirement to ‘check and confirm’ company information at Companies House replacing the old form of annual return; private companies may opt to keep certain information on the public register, instead of holding their own statutory registers; information on people with significant control is to be filed at Companies House.

SBEE provided for a prohibition on use of corporate directors with exceptions to be provided for in regulations. As at the date of this information noted above, the provisions had not been implemented.