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UK Introduces New E-Communication Requirements
The United Kingdom has recently introduced new communication requirements under the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), a law governing company registration matters in the UK. The changes reflect the ever-increasing use of information technology and electronic communications among businesses. Specifically, under the Act and accompanying regulations the registrar of companies, whose main function is to incorporate and dissolve limited companies, examine and store company information, and disclose such information to the public, must: (i) allow companies to electronically file all “basic documents” (defined in Article 2 of the First Council Directive 68/151/EEC); (ii) allow for the electronic inspection of such documents; (iii) offer electronic copies of such documents to those inspecting the register; and (iv) keep all such documents in electronic form, whether submitted electronically or in paper form. EU member states will further be allowed to use an electronic alternative to the publication of documents in UK’s national gazette. The Act also requires that a company’s emails, online order forms, and websites include: (i) its name, place of registration and registration number; (ii) the address of its registered office; and (iii) whether it is an “investment” company or “limited” company, if either. Companies face possible fines if they are found to be in breach of provisions of the Act.
For a copy of the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s briefing on the changes, visit:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file36201.doc
For a copy of the First Council Directive 68/151/EEC, visit: