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Companies Act 2006
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Companies Act 2006, Section 76 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2008/373 reg. 11(1) by S.I. 2013/1971 reg. 9(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Amending Regulations revoked (1.10.2013) without ever being in force by S.I. 2013/2224, reg. 2)
- Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2008/373 reg. 3(4) by S.I. 2013/1971 reg. 4 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Amending Regulations revoked (1.10.2013) without ever being in force by S.I. 2013/2224, reg. 2)
- Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2014/3348, art. 220A by S.I. 2024/1115 reg. 4(3)
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 479A(2)(c)(zi) inserted by S.I. 2019/177 reg. 4(b)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 4 substituted by regs. 4, 4A immediately before IP completion day by S.I. 2019/1392, regs. 1(2), 4)
- Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 25(m) inserted by 2024 c. 13 Sch. 30 para. 30
- Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 25(j) omitted by 2024 c. 13 Sch. 21 para. 10
- Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 28 words substituted by 2024 c. 13 Sch. 18 para. 9(2)(a)(i)
- Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 29 words substituted by 2024 c. 13 Sch. 18 para. 9(2)(a)(ii)
- Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 36 words substituted by 2024 c. 13 Sch. 18 para. 9(2)(b)
- Sch. 10 para. 6(2D) inserted by S.I. 2019/177 reg. 28(e) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 28(e) omitted immediately before IP completion day by virtue of S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 14(e)(iv))
- Sch. 10 para. 7(2A) inserted by S.I. 2019/177 reg. 29(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 29 substituted immediately before IP completion day by S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 14(f))
76Misleading indication of activitiesU.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)If in the opinion of the Secretary of State the name by which a company is registered gives so misleading an indication of the nature of its activities as to [F1pose a risk of harm to the public in the United Kingdom or elsewhere], the Secretary of State may direct the company to change its name.
[F2(2)The direction must be in writing and must specify the period within which the company is to change its name.
(3)The period must be a period of at least 28 days beginning with the date of the direction.
(3A)The Secretary of State may by further direction in writing extend the period.
Any such direction must be given before the end of the period for the time being specified.]
[F3(4)A company may apply to the court to set aside a direction under subsection (1).
(4A)Any application under subsection (4) must be made within the period of three weeks beginning with the date of the direction.]
(5)The court may set the direction aside or confirm it.
If the direction is confirmed, the court shall specify the period within which the direction is to be complied with.
[F4(5A)If a company applies to the court under subsection (4) to set aside a direction, it is not required to comply with the direction while the proceedings are ongoing.]
[F5(5B)Where a direction is given under subsection (1), the registrar may omit from the material on the register that is available for public inspection any mention of the name to which the direction relates.]
(6)If a company fails to comply with a direction under [F6subsection (1)], an offence is committed by—
(a)the company, and
(b)every officer of the company who is in default.
For this purpose a shadow director is treated as an officer of the company.
(7)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 76(1) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 16, 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(l)
F2S. 76(2)-(3A) substituted for s. 76(2) (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 13(5)(a), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(i)
F3S. 76(4)(4A) substituted for s. 76(4) (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 13(5)(b), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(i)
F4S. 76(5A) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 13(5)(c), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(i)
F5S. 76(5B) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 14(6), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(j)
F6Words in s. 76(6) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 13(5)(d), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(i)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 76 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), regs. 2, 13 (as amended (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 11(4); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a))
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