Company Books
Company books are a core source of information for shareholders and we can help you understand what matters.
Companies in the UK are required to create and maintain a collection of registers known as company statutory registers (or company ‘books’), which record evidence of its history and constitution, giving you insight into its structure and regulation. But for the uninitiated they can be difficult to navigate.
The Companies Act requires every private company to keep and maintain registers of:
- Directors;
- Directors’ usual residential addresses;
- Company’s members;
- Secretaries (where applicable);
- People with significant control over the company; and
- Any charges registered against the company (where registered on or before 6 April 2013).
These registers or ‘books’ can be kept in hard copy or electronically (provided that they are capable of being reproduced in hard copy). They must be kept at the registered office of the company, unless some alternative inspection address has been registered with Companies House.
You should be aware that in practice many companies do not have (let alone maintain or update) company books – technically this is a criminal offence.
As a shareholder, there are certain questions you may need to ask. Who became a director and when? Who became a shareholder and when? How many shares are held by a specific shareholder and when were they acquired? The first (often only) source you can consult to answer these questions is the company books, so it is vital that you know how to access them and understand what they contain.
Our team delivers the knowledge, action and insight you require when dealing with company books, arming you with the information you need to ensure you meet your objectives.