(This note is not part of the Order)

This is the first Commencement Order made under the Companies Act 2006 (c.46) ("the Act"). Part 47, and certain provisions in Parts 43, 44 and 46 of the Act came into force on the passing of the Act.

Article 2 brings into force on 1st January 2007 provisions for the sending of documents to the registrar of companies by electronic means and for the searching of the register and provision by the registrar of copy documents electronically. There is a saving in paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 for existing provisions enabling certain documents to be filed in Welsh without English translation and about the certifying of translations from Welsh as correct.

Article 3(1) (c) brings section 463 of the Act (liability for false or misleading statements in reports) into force on 20th January 2007. Transitional provision is made in paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to the Order. This provides that section 463 will not apply to directors’ reports, directors’ remuneration reports and summary financial statements so far as derived from such reports when they are prepared under Part 7 of the Companies Act 1985 (c.6) or Part 8 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6)) and first sent to members and others before 20th January 2007.