UK: articles of association under the Companies Act 2006

The Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 were laid before Parliament on 17 December 2008 and come into force on 1 October 2009. The Regulations contain the model articles for private companies limited by shares, private companies limited by guarantee and public companies.

The model articles provide default rules: they apply to companies formed on or after 1 October 2009 unless alternative provisions (in whole or part) are adopted. Further information is available in the accompanying explanatory memorandum. Non-statutory guidance (aimed at small companies) will be published in early 2009 on the DBERR website and will explain the differences between the default articles in the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 and the new model articles. In addition, there are updated FAQs on the DBERR website.