(1)There may in the case of a company limited by shares, and there shall in the case of a company limited by guarantee or unlimited, be registered with the memorandum articles of association signed by the subscribers to the memorandum and prescribing regulations for the company.
(2)In the case of an unlimited company having a share capital, the articles must state the amount of share capital with which the company proposes to be registered.
(3)Articles must—
(a)be printed,
(b)be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively, and
(c)[F1subject to subsection (3A),]be signed by each subscriber of the memorandum in the presence of at least one witness who must attest the signature [F2(which attestation is sufficient in Scotland as well as in England and Wales)].
[F3(3A)Where the articles are delivered to the registrar otherwise than in legible form and are authenticated by each subscriber to the memorandum in such manner as is directed by the registrar, the requirements in subsection (3)(c) for signature in the presence of at least one witness and for attestation of the signature do not apply.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 7(3)(c) inserted (22.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3373, art. 3(1)(2)
F2Words in s. 7(3)(c) repealed (S.) (1.8.1995) by 1995 c. 7, ss. 14(2), 15(2), Sch. 5 (with ss. 9(3)(5)(7), 13, 14(3))
F3S. 7(3A) inserted (22.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3373, art. 3(1)(3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 7 restricted (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), regs. 85, 88, Sch. 4 para. 1(3) (with para. 11)
C2S. 7(1) applied (1.7.2005) by Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 (c. 27), ss. 32(2), 65; S.I. 2004/3322, art. 2(3), Sch. 3 (subject to arts. 3-13)