Companies (Consolidation) Act 1908

Associations not for Profit.

19 Restriction on charitable and other companies holding land.

A company formed for the purpose of promoting art, science, religion, charity, or any other like object, not involving the acquisition of gain by the company or by its individual members, shall not, without the licence of the Board of Trade, hold more than two acres of land ; but the Board may by licence empower any such company to hold lands in such quantity, and subject to such conditions, as the Board think fit.

20 Power to dispense with “limited ” in name of charitable and other companies.

(1) Where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade that an association about to be formed as a limited company is to be formed for promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity, or any other useful object, and intends to apply its profits (if any) or other income in promoting its objects, and to prohibit the payment of any dividend to its members, the Board may by licence direct that the association be registered as a company with limited liability, without the addition of the word “Limited ” to its name, and the association may be registered accordingly.

(2) A licence by the Board of Trade under this section may be granted on such conditions and subject to such regulations as the Board think fit, and those conditions and regulations shall be binding on the association, and shall, if the Board so direct, be inserted in the memorandum and articles, or in one of those documents.

(3) The association shall on registration enjoy all the privileges of limited companies, and be subject to all their obligations, except those of using the word “Limited” as any part of its name, and of publishing its name, and of sending lists of members and directors and managers to the registrar of companies.

(4) A licence-under this section may at any time be revoked by the Board of Trade, and upon revocation the registrar shall enter the word “Limited ” at the end of the name of the association upon the register, and the association shall cease to enjoy the exemptions and privileges granted by this section :

Provided that before a licence is so revoked the Board shall give to the association notice in writing of their intention, and shall afford the association an opportunity of being heard in opposition to the revocation.