英国公司法TheCompaniesAct2006TheCompaniesAct2006(c46)isanActoftheParliamentoftheUnitedKingdomwhichformstheprimarysourceofUKcompanylaw.IthadthedistinctionofbeingthelongestinBritishParliamentaryhistory:with1,300sectionsandcoveringnearly700pages,andcontaining16schedules(Thelistofcontentsis59pageslong)butithassincebeensuperseded,inthatrespect,bytheCorporationTaxAct2009.TheActwasbroughtintoforceinstages,withthefinalprovisionbeingcommencedon1October2009.ItsupersededtheCompaniesAct1985.TheActprovidesacomprehensivecodeofcompanylawfortheUnitedKingdom,andmadechangestoalmosteveryfacetofthelawinrelationtocompanies.Thekeyprovisionsare:?theActcodifiescertainexistingcommonlawprinciples,suchasthoserelatingtodirectors'duties.?itimplementstheEuropeanUnion'sTakeoverandTransparencyObligationsDirectives.?itintroducesvariousnewprovisionsforprivateandpubliccompanies.?itappliesasinglecompanylawregimeacrosstheUnitedKingdom,replacingthetwoseparate(ifidentical)systemsforGreatBritainandNorthernIreland.?itotherwiseamendsorrestatesalmostalloftheCompaniesAct1985tovaryingdegrees.[2]TheBillfortheActwasfirstintroducedtoParliamentas"theCompanyLawReformBill"andwasintendedtomakewide-rangingamendmentstoexistingstatutes.LobbyingfromdirectorsandthelegalprofessionensuredthattheBillwaschangedintoaconsolidatingAct,avoidingtheneedforcross-referencingbetweennumerousstatutes.ThereceptionoftheActbythelegalprofessionsintheUnitedKingdomhasbeenslightlylukewarm.Concernshavebeenexpressedthattoomuchdetailhasbeeninsertedtoseektocovereveryeventuality.[3]Whereasacompleteoverhaulofcompanylawwaspromised,theActseemstoleavemuchoftheexistingstructureinplace,andtosimplifycertainaspectsonlyatthemargins.Inotherareas,itissaidtohavecomplicatedandobfuscatedpreviouslysettledlawandmaymakedoingbusinessmoredifficultforthoseoperatingsmallcompanies.Contents[hide]?1Implementation?2Directors?3Generalprovisions?4Privatecompanies?5Publicandlistedcompanies?6Contents?7Seealso?8Notes?9References?10Externallinks[edit]ImplementationAsmallportionoftheActcameintoeffectonRoyalAssentinNovember2006.ThefirstandsecondCommencementOrdersthenbroughtfurtherprovisionsintoforceinJanuary2007andApril2007.TheimplementationtimetablefortheremainderoftheActwasannouncedinFebruary2007,byMargaretHodge,MinisterforIndustryandtheRegions.ThethirdandfourthCommencementOrdersbroughtafurthertrancheofprovisionsintoforceinOctober2007,andthefifth,sixthandseventhinAprilandOctober2008.Theeighthcommencementorder,madeinNovember2008,broughttheremainderoftheActintoforcewitheffectfromOctober2009.ThestaggeredtimetablewasintendedtogivecompaniessufficienttimetoprepareforthenewregimeundertheAct,ratherthanimplementingall1,300sectionsoftheActononeday.Anotherreasonforthestaggeredimplementationisthat,despitetheAct'ssize,agreatmanysectionsprovideforsubsidiarylegislationtobebroughtinbySecretaryofState,whichhastakentimetodraft.ImplementationoftheActistheresponsibilityoftheDepartmentforBusiness,InnovationandSkills.[edit]DirectorsMainarticle:BoardofdirectorsTheActreplacedandcodifiedtheprincipalcommonlawandequitabledutiesofdirectors,butitdoesnotpurporttoprovideanexhaustivestatementoftheirduties,andsoitislikelythatthecommonlawdutiessurviveinareducedform.Traditionalcommonlawnotionsofcorporatebenefithavebeensweptaway,andthenewemphasisisoncorporatesocialresponsibility.Thesevencodifieddutiesareasfollows:1.S1...
