Part 10A company's directors

Chapter 9Supplementary provisions

Meaning of “director” and “shadow director”

251“Shadow director”

(1)

In the Companies Acts “shadow director”, in relation to a company, means a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company are accustomed to act.

(2)

A person is not to be regarded as a shadow director by reason only that the directors act F1

(a)

on advice given by that person in a professional capacity;

(b)

in accordance with instructions, a direction, guidance or advice given by that person in the exercise of a function conferred by or under an enactment;

(c)

in accordance with guidance or advice given by that person in that person's capacity as a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975)

(3)

A body corporate is not to be regarded as a shadow director of any of its subsidiary companies for the purposes of—

  • Chapter 2 (general duties of directors),

  • Chapter 4 (transactions requiring members' approval), or

  • Chapter 6 (contract with sole member who is also a director),

by reason only that the directors of the subsidiary are accustomed to act in accordance with its directions or instructions.