Companies Act 1989

Particulars to be given of directors and secretaries

2 (1) Section 289 of the Companies Act 1985 (particulars of directors required to be entered in register) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)(a) (particulars of individual directors)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (i) for “Christian name and surname” and in sub-paragraph (ii) for “Christian name or surname” substitute “name”, and

(b) for sub-paragraph (vii) substitute—

“(vii) the date of his birth;”.

(3) In subsection (1)(b) (particulars of other directors) after “corporation” insert “or Scottish firm” and after “corporate” insert “or firm”.

(4) For subsection (2) substitute—

“(2) In subsection (1)(a)—

(a) “name” means a person’s Christian name (or other forename) and surname, except that in the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname, or in addition to either or both of them; and

(b) the reference to a former name does not include—

(i) in the case of a peer, or an individual normally known by a British title, the name by which he was known previous to the adoption of or succession to the title, or

(ii) in the case of any person, a former name which was changed or disused before he attained the age of 18 years or which has been changed or disused for 20 years or more, or

(iii) in the case of a married woman, the name by which she was known previous to the marriage.”.

3 (1) Section 290 of the Companies Act 1985 (particulars of secretaries to be entered in register) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)(a) (particulars of individuals) for “Christian name and surname” and “Christian name or surname” substitute “name”.

(3) For subsection (3) substitute—

“(3) Section 289(2)(a) and (b) apply for the purposes of the obligation under subsection (1)(a) of this section to state the name or former name of an individual.”.

4 (1) Section 305 of the Companies Act 1985 (directors' names on company correspondence, &c.) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) for the words from “the Christian name” onwards substitute “the name of every director of the company”.

(3) For subsection (4) substitute—

“(4) For the purposes of the obligation under subsection (1) to state the name of every director of the company, a person’s “name” means—

(a) in the case of an individual, his Christian name (or other forename) and surname; and

(b) in the case of a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name.

(5) The initial or a recognised abbreviation of a person’s Christian name or other forename may be stated instead of the full Christian name or other forename.

(6) In the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname or in addition to either or both of them.

(7) In this section “director” includes a shadow director and the reference in subsection (3) to an “officer” shall be construed accordingly.”.

5 (1) Section 686 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (documents to be delivered to registrar on registration of company not formed under companies legislation) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (particulars to be delivered to registrar), for paragraph (b) (particulars of directors and managers) substitute—

“(b) a list showing with respect to each director or manager of the company—

(i) in the case of an individual, his name, address, occupation and date of birth,

(ii) in the case of a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name and registered or principal office,”.

(3) After that subsection insert—

“(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)(i) a person’s “name” means his Christian name (or other forename) and surname, except that in the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname or in addition to either or both of them.”.

6 In section 691 of the Companies Act 1985 (documents to be delivered to registrar on registration of oversea company), for subsection (2) (particulars of directors and secretary) substitute—

“(2) The list referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) shall contain the following particulars with respect to each director—

(a) in the case of an individual—

(i) his name,

(ii) any former name,

(iii) his usual residential address,

(iv) his nationality,

(v) his business occupation (if any),

(vi) if he has no business occupation but holds other directorships, particulars of them, and

(vii) his date of birth;

(b) in the case of a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name and registered or principal office.

(3) The list referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) shall contain the following particulars with respect to the secretary (or, where there are joint secretaries, with respect to each of them)—

(a) in the case of an individual, his name, any former name and his usual residential address;

(b) in the case of a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name and registered or principal office.

Where all the partners in a firm are joint secretaries of the company, the name and principal office of the firm may be stated instead of the particulars required by paragraph (a).

(4) In subsections (2)(a) and (3)(a) above—

(a) “name” means a person’s Christian name (or other forename) and surname, except that in the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname, or in addition to either or both of them; and

(b) the reference to a former name does not include—

(i) in the case of a peer, or an individual normally known by a British title, the name by which he was known previous to the adoption of or succession to the title, or

(ii) in the case of any person, a former name which was changed or disused before he attained the age of 18 years or which has been changed or disused for 20 years or more, or

(iii) in the case of a married woman, the name by which she was known previous to the marriage.”.

7 (1) Schedule 1 to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (particulars of directors and secretaries to be sent to registrar) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(a) (particulars of individual directors)—

(a) for “Christian name and surname” and “Christian name or surname” substitute “name”; and

(b) for the words from “and, in the case” to the end substitute “and his date of birth”.

(3) In paragraph 1(b) (particulars of other directors) after “corporation” insert “or Scottish firm” and after “corporate” insert “or firm”.

(4) In paragraph 3(1)(a) (particulars of individual secretaries) for “Christian name and surname” (twice) substitute “name”.

(5) For paragraph 4 substitute—

“4 In paragraphs 1(a) and 3(1)(a) above—

(a) “name” means a person’s Christian name (or other forename) and surname, except that in the case of a peer, or an individual usually known by a title, the title may be stated instead of his Christian name (or other forename) and surname or in addition to either or both of them; and

(b) the reference to a former name does not include—

(i) in the case of a peer, or an individual normally known by a British title, the name by which he was known previous to the adoption of or succession to the title, or

(ii) in the case of any person, a former name which was changed or disused before he attained the age of 18 years or which has been changed or disused for 20 years or more, or

(iii) in the case of a married woman, the name by which she was known previous to the marriage.”.