Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill (HC Bill 11)

7 After section 167 insert—

“Option to keep information on the central register

167A Right to make an election

(1) An election may be made under this section in respect of a register of
directors or a register of directors’ residential addresses (or both).

(2) 5The election may be made—

(a) by the subscribers wishing to form a private company under
this Act, or

(b) by the private company itself once it is formed and
registered.

(3) 10The election is made by giving notice of election to the registrar.

(4) If the notice is given by subscribers wishing to form a private
company, it must be given when the documents required to be
delivered under section 9 are delivered to the registrar.

167B Effective date of election

(1) 15An election made under section 167A takes effect when the notice of
election is registered by the registrar.

(2) The election remains in force until either—

(a) the company ceases to be a private company, or

(b) a notice of withdrawal sent by the company under section
20167E is registered by the registrar,

whichever occurs first.

167C Effect of election on obligations under sections 162 to 167

(1) If an election is in force under section 167A with respect to a
company, the company’s obligations under sections 162 to 167—

(a) 25to keep and maintain a register of the relevant kind, and

(b) to notify the registrar of changes to it,

do not apply with respect to the period when the election is in force.

(2) The reference in subsection (1) to a register “of the relevant kind” is
to a register (whether a register of directors or a register of directors’
30residential addresses) of the kind in respect of which the election is
made.

167D Duty to notify registrar of changes

(1) The duty under subsection (2) applies during the period when an
election under section 167A is in force.

(2) 35The company must deliver to the registrar—

(a) any information of which the company would during that
period have been obliged to give notice under section 167,
had the election not been in force, and

(b) any statement that would have had to accompany such a
40notice.

(3) The information (and any accompanying statement) must be
delivered as soon as reasonably practicable after the company
becomes aware of the information and, in any event, no later than the
time by which the company would have been required under section
5167 to give notice of the information.

(4) If default is made in complying with this section, an offence is
committed by—

(a) the company, and

(b) every officer of the company who is in default.

10For this purpose a shadow director is treated as an officer of the
company.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary
conviction—

(a) in England and Wales, to a fine and, for continued
15contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of
level 4 on the standard scale;

(b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level
5 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a
daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the
20standard scale.

167E Withdrawing the election

(1) A company may withdraw an election made by or in respect of it
under section 167A.

(2) Withdrawal is achieved by giving notice of withdrawal to the
25registrar.

(3) The withdrawal takes effect when the notice is registered by the
registrar.

(4) The effect of withdrawal is that the company’s obligation under
section 162 or (as the case may be) 165 to keep and maintain a register
30of the relevant kind, and its obligation under section 167 to notify the
registrar of changes to that register, apply from then on with respect
to the period going forward.

(5) This means that, when the withdrawal takes effect—

(a) the company must enter in that register all the information
35that is required to be contained in that register in respect of
matters that are current as at that time, but

(b) the company is not required to enter in its register
information relating to the period when the election was in
force that is no longer current.

167F 40Power to extend option to public companies

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this Act—

(a) to extend sections 167A to 167E (with or without
modification) to public companies or public companies of a
class specified in the regulations, and

(b) 45to make such other amendments as the Secretary of State
thinks fit in consequence of that extension.

(2) Regulations under this section are subject to affirmative resolution
procedure.”

Register of secretaries

8 Part 12 of the Companies Act 2006 (company secretaries) is amended as
5follows.

9 After section 274 insert—

“274A Alternative method of record-keeping

Sections 275 and 276 must be read with sections 279A to 279E (which
allow for an alternative method of record-keeping in the case of
10private companies).”

10 After section 279 insert—

“Option to keep information on the central register

279A Right to make an election

(1) An election may be made under this section—

(a) by the subscribers wishing to form a private company under
15this Act, or

(b) by the private company itself once it is formed and
registered.

(2) The election is made by giving notice of election to the registrar.

(3) If the notice is given by subscribers wishing to form a private
20company, it must be given when the documents required to be
delivered under section 9 are delivered to the registrar.

279B Effective date of election

(1) An election made under section 279A takes effect when the notice of
election is registered by the registrar.

(2) 25The election remains in force until either—

(a) the company ceases to be a private company, or

(b) a notice of withdrawal sent by the company under section
279E is registered by the registrar,

whichever occurs first.

279C 30Effect of election on obligations under sections 275 and 276

If an election is in force under section 279A in respect of a company,
the company’s obligations—

(a) to keep and maintain a register of secretaries under section
275, and

(b) 35to notify the registrar of changes to it under section 276,

do not apply with respect to the period when the election is in force.

279D Duty to notify registrar of changes

(1) The duty under subsection (2) applies during the period when an
election under section 279A is in force.

(2) The company must deliver to the registrar—

(a) any information of which the company would during that
period have been obliged to give notice under section 276,
had the election not been in force, and

(b) 5any statement that would have had to accompany such a
notice.

(3) The information (and any accompanying statement) must be
delivered as soon as reasonably practicable after the company
becomes aware of the information and, in any event, no later than the
10time by which the company would have been obliged under section
276 to give notice of the information.

(4) If default is made in complying with this section, an offence is
committed by—

(a) the company, and

(b) 15every officer of the company who is in default.

For this purpose a shadow director is treated as an officer of the
company.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary
conviction—

(a) 20in England and Wales, to a fine and, for continued
contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of
level 4 on the standard scale;

(b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level
5 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a
25daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the
standard scale.

279E Withdrawing the election

(1) A company may withdraw an election made by or in respect of it
under section 279A.

(2) 30Withdrawal is achieved by giving notice of withdrawal to the
registrar.

(3) The withdrawal takes effect when the notice is registered by the
registrar.

(4) The effect of withdrawal is that the company’s obligation under
35section 275 to keep and maintain a register of secretaries, and its
obligation under section 276 to notify the registrar of changes to that
register, apply from then on with respect to the period going
forward.

(5) This means that, when the withdrawal takes effect—

(a) 40the company must enter in its register of secretaries all the
information that is required to be contained in that register in
respect of matters that are current as at that time, but

(b) the company is not required to enter in its register
information relating to the period when the election was in
45force that is no longer current.

279F Power to extend option to public companies

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this Act—

(a) to extend sections 279A to 279E (with or without
modification) to public companies or public companies of a
5class specified in the regulations, and

(b) to make such other amendments as the Secretary of State
thinks fit in consequence of that extension.

(2) Regulations under this section are subject to affirmative resolution
procedure.”

10Part 2 Related amendments

11 The Companies Act 2006 is amended as follows.

12 In section 12 (statement of proposed officers), in subsection (2), after “will be
required” insert “(or, in the absence of an election under section 167A or
15279A, would be required)”.

13 In section 112 (the members of a company), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) Where an election under section 128B is in force in respect of a
company—

(a) the requirement in subsection (1) to enter particulars of
20members in the company’s register of members does not
apply, and

(b) subsection (2) has effect as if the reference to a person whose
name is entered in the company’s register of members were
a reference to a person with respect to whom the following
25steps have been taken—

(i) the person’s name has been delivered to the registrar
under section 128E, and

(ii) the document containing that information has been
registered by the registrar.”

14 30In section 127 (register to be evidence), after the words “in it” insert “, except
for any matters of which the central register is prima facie evidence by virtue
of section 128H”.

15 In section 246 (putting the address on the public record)—

(a) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) 35But—

(a) subsection (3)(a) does not apply if an election under
section 167A is in force in respect of the company’s
register of directors, and

(b) subsection (3)(b) does not apply if an election under
40section 167A is in force in respect of the company’s
register of directors’ residential addresses.”,

(b) after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) If an election under section 167A is in force in respect of the
company’s register of directors, the company must, in place

of doing the things mentioned in subsection (4)(a) and (b),
deliver the particulars to the registrar in accordance with
section 167D.”, and

(c) in subsection (5), for “or (4)” substitute “, (4) or (4A)”.

16 5In section 286 (votes of joint holders of shares), in subsection (2), after
“register of members” insert “(or, if an election under section 128B is in force
in respect of the company, in the register kept by the registrar under section
1080)”.

17 In section 311 (contents of notices of meetings), in subsection (3)(b)(i), after
10“register of members” insert “(or, if an election under section 128B is in force
in respect of the company, by reference to the register kept by the registrar
under section 1080)”.

18 In section 360B (traded companies: requirements for participating in and
voting at general meetings), after subsection (4) insert—

“(5) 15If an election is in force under section 128B in respect of a company,
the reference in subsection (2) to the register of members is to be read
as a reference to the register kept by the registrar under section 1080.”

19 In section 554 (registration of allotment), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) If an election is in force under Chapter 2A of Part 8, the obligation
20under subsection (1) to register the allotment of shares is replaced by
an obligation to deliver particulars of the allotment of shares to the
registrar in accordance with that Chapter.”

20 In section 558 (when shares are allotted), after “members” insert “(or, as the
case may be, to have the person’s name and other particulars delivered to
25the registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8 and registered by the registrar)”.

21 In section 588 (liability of subsequent holders of shares), in subsection (3)(a),
after “members” insert “(or, as the case may be, to have his name and other
particulars delivered to the registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8 and
registered by the registrar)”.

22 30In section 605 (liability of subsequent holders of shares), in subsection (4)(a),
after “members” insert “(or, as the case may be, to have his name and other
particulars delivered to the registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8 and
registered by the registrar)”.

23 In section 616 (interpretation of Chapter 7), in subsection (3), after
35“members” insert “(or, as the case may be, have your name and other
particulars delivered to the registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8 and
registered by the registrar)”.

24 In section 655 (shares no bar to damages against company), after “members”
insert “(or have his name and other particulars delivered to the registrar
40under Chapter 2A of Part 8 and registered by the registrar)”.

25 In section 724 (Treasury shares), in subsection (4), after “members” insert
“(or, as the case may be, the company’s name must be delivered to the
registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8)”.

26 In section 770 (registration of transfer), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) 45If an election under Chapter 2A of Part 8 is in force in respect of the
company, references in this section to registering a transfer (or a

person) are to be read as references to delivering particulars of that
transfer (or person) to the registrar under that Chapter.”

27 In section 771 (procedure on transfer being lodged), after subsection (2)
insert—

“(2A) 5If an election is in force under Chapter 2A of Part 8 in respect of the
company, references in this section to registering the transfer are to
be read as references to delivering particulars of the transfer to the
registrar in accordance with that Chapter.”

28 In section 772 (transfer of shares on application of transferor)—

(a) 10after “the name of the transferee” insert “(or, as the case may be,
deliver the name of the transferee to the registrar under Chapter 2A
of Part 8)”, and

(b) after “entry” insert “(or delivery)”.

29 In section 786 (provision enabling or requiring arrangements to be adopted),
15in subsection (3)(a), after “members” insert “(or, as the case may be,
delivered to the registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8)”.

30 In section 1068 (registrar’s requirements as to form, authentication and
manner of delivery), after subsection (6) insert—

“(6A) But the power conferred by this section does authorise the registrar
20to require any document permitted or required to be delivered to the
registrar under Chapter 2A of Part 8 (option to keep membership
information on central register) to be delivered by electronic means.”

31 (1) Section 1081 (annotation of the register) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) 25If the registrar registers a document delivered by a company under
section 128E that, by virtue of subsection (3)(a), (b) or (c) of that
section, does not specify the relevant date, the registrar must place a
note in the register recording as that date the date on which the
document was registered by the registrar.”

(3) 30In subsection (6), after “(1)” insert “or (1A)”.

32 In section 1094 (administrative removal of material from the register), in
subsection (3)(a)—

(a) omit “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (vii),

(b) insert “, or” at the end of sub-paragraph (viii), and

(c) 35after that sub-paragraph insert—

“(ix) a change in its membership particulars of
which were delivered to the registrar under
section 128E (duty to notify registrar of
changes while election to keep information on
40central register is in force);”.

33 In section 1136 (regulations about where certain company records to be kept
available for inspection), in subsection (2), after the entry for section 114
insert—

• “section 128D (historic register of members);”.

34 45In Schedule 5 (communications by a company)—

(a) in paragraph 4 (address for communications in hard copy form),
after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect—

(a) where an election under section 128B is in force, as
5if the reference in paragraph (c) to the company’s
register of members were a reference to the register
kept by the registrar under section 1080, and

(b) where an election under section 167A is in force in
respect of the company’s register of directors, as if
10the reference in paragraph (d) to the company’s
register of directors were a reference to the register
kept by the registrar under section 1080.”, and

(b) in paragraph 16 (joint holders of shares or debentures), after sub-
paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A) 15Where an election under section 128B is in force, the
reference in sub-paragraph (3)(b) to the register of
members is to be read as a reference to the register kept by
the registrar under section 1080.”

35 In Schedule 8 (index of defined expressions), in the appropriate place
20insert—

Section 85

SCHEDULE 6 Contents of statements of capital

1 25The Companies Act 2006 is amended as follows.

2 In section 10 (statement of capital and initial shareholdings), in
subsection  (2)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) to be unpaid on those
30shares (whether on account of their nominal value or
by way of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

3 In section 32 (constitutional documents to be provided to members), in
subsection (2)—

(a) 35after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

4 In section 108 (statement of capital required on re-registration as a limited
company which already has allotted share capital), in subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
5(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

5 In section 555 (return of allotment by limited company), in subsection (4)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) 10the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

6 In section 619 (notice to registrar of sub-division or consolidation), in
15subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) 20omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

7 In section 621 (notice to registrar of reconversion of stock into shares), in
subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
25(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

8 In section 625 (notice to registrar of redenomination), in subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) 30the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

9 In section 627 (notice to registrar of reduction of capital in connection with
35redenomination), in subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) 40omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

10 In section 644 (registration of resolution reducing share capital), in
subsection (2)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
45(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

11 In section 649 (registration of court order confirming reduction of share
capital), in subsection (2)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
5(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

12 In section 663 (notice to registrar of cancellation of shares), in
subsection  (3)—

(a) 10after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

13 15In section 689 (notice to registrar of redemption), in subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) 20omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

14 In section 708 (notice to registrar of cancellation on purchase of own shares),
in subsection (3)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
25(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

15 In section 720B (registration of resolution etc. for purchase of own shares in
connection with employees’ share scheme), in subsection (2)—

(a) 30after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).

16 35In section 730 (notification of cancellation of treasury shares), in
subsection  (5)—

(a) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the aggregate amount (if any) unpaid on those shares
(whether on account of their nominal value or by way
40of premium), and”, and

(b) omit paragraph (d) (and the “and” immediately before it).