Guide to the Companies Act, 1989

The Companies Act 1989 has far-reaching implications for all UK companies. This guide provides a comprehensive and practical analysis of the Act and incorporates detailed references to the relevant sources in the legislation. Whilst the main purpose of this new Act is to implement the EC Seventh and Eight Company law Directives, the Government has taken advantage of the opportunity to introduce a number of other significant changes in company legislation. These changes cover a wide range of subjects - from the reform of the doctrine of "ultra vires" to the implementation of the Dearing Report recommendations; from a reduction in the scope for merger accounting and increased disclosure requirements in relation to acquisitions, mergers and goodwill to revisions of the general law of insolvency. A number of changes have also been made as part of the Government's drive to lessen the burden on businesses. In addition, the Act introduces significant amendments to the definition of a group, these will have an important impact on the scope for off-balance sheet finance schemes.
This means that companies which are currently not subsidiaries under the definition in the 1985 Companies Act, may be required to be consolidated under the 1989 Act.