What is Table A?
Table A is a specimen set of articles for a company
limited by shares. It is used as the basis for most
companies' articles. From the 1st October 2007 there
is a new Table A which takes account of the changes
being put in place from that date under the new Companies
Act 2006. The new Table A is applicable to companies
incorporated on or after 1st October 2007 and before
1st October 2008; when a new set of model articles replaces
the old style Table A.
The previous version of Table A is to be found in a
Statutory Instrument, the Companies (Tables A to F)
Regulations 1985 SI 1985/805 as amended by the Companies
(Tables A to F) (Amendment) Regulations 1985) (SI 1985/1052)
and the Companies Act 1985 (Electronic Communications).
The full text can be found in the related topic Table
A (Full Text) (link below).
There have been new versions of Table A enacted by the Companies Acts or by Statutory Instrument from time to time. A company which adopts Table A as its articles (either wholly or in part) will acquire the version of Table A in force at the date when those articles are adopted. It is obviously important when dealing with an older company to check which version of Table A applies. Note, in particular, that there are substantial differences between the 1948 version of Table (which applied, with some subsequent amendment until 1985) and the current version.
Many provisions in Table A suit the majority of companies, but most companies have some clauses in their articles which are different from those of Table A. Articles are commonly set out in short form, that is by stating that the articles are those of Table A except for a following list of amendments. If many of the terms of Table A are varied, or if the company is a PLC, then long form articles, setting out every provision may be used.
CA 1985, sec8 provides that the terms of Table A insofar as they are not excluded, and it is possible to register a company without articles in which case the company has all of Table A as its articles.
Table A contains four main sections:
- Share capital (clauses 2 - 35)
- General meetings (clauses 46 - 63)
- Directors (clauses 64 - 98)
- Miscellaneous (clauses 99 - 118)
Click here to link to
the full text of both the current and previous versions
of Table A.
Related topics
|
