Companies Act 2006 - Guide to the August and October 2009 changes

October 2009 sees the final stage of the implementation of The Companies Act 2006. The new Act is intended to bring major benefits to UK business by modernising and simplifying company law. It replaces or restates most of the old Companies Acts 1985 and 1989 and is having a significant impact on UK companies.

A large proportion of the new Act’s provisions came into force in 2007 and 2008. Some further changes were made on 3 August in relation to company meetings, many of which relate to listed companies only. The phased implementation will then be completed in October.

This guidebook focuses on the key changes affecting private and public companies implemented on 3 August and 1 October 2009. The guidebook also briefly summarises key changes which have already taken place and includes a 'final checklist' of the main areas for UK companies to review in the light of the new Act as a whole.

Lawyers Andrew Telling