Companies Act 2006

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Meaning of “undertaking” and related expressions

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Companies Act 2006, Cross Heading: Meaning of “undertaking” and related expressions is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

• Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2008/373 reg. 11(1) by S.I. 2013/1971reg. 9(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Amending Regulations revoked (1.10.2013) without ever being in force by S.I. 2013/2224, reg. 2)
• Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2008/373 reg. 3(4) by S.I. 2013/1971reg. 4 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Amending Regulations revoked (1.10.2013) without ever being in force by S.I. 2013/2224, reg. 2)

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

• s. 479A(2)(c)(zi) inserted by S.I. 2019/177reg. 4(b)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 4 substituted by regs. 4, 4A immediately before IP completion day by S.I. 2019/1392, regs. 1(2), 4)
• Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 25(m) inserted by 2024 c. 13Sch. 30para. 30
• Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 25(j) omitted by 2024 c. 13Sch. 21para. 10
• Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 28 words substituted by 2024 c. 13Sch. 18para. 9(2)(a)(i)
• Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 29 words substituted by 2024 c. 13Sch. 18para. 9(2)(a)(ii)
• Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Section (A) para. 36 words substituted by 2024 c. 13Sch. 18para. 9(2)(b)
• Sch. 10 para. 6(2D) inserted by S.I. 2019/177reg. 28(e) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 28(e) omitted immediately before IP completion day by virtue of S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 14(e)(iv))
• Sch. 10 para. 7(2A) inserted by S.I. 2019/177reg. 29(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Reg. 29 substituted immediately before IP completion day by S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 14(f))

Meaning of “undertaking” and related expressions U.K.

1161 Meaning of “undertaking” and related expressions U.K.

(1) In the Companies Acts“ undertaking ” means—

(a) a body corporate or partnership, or

(b) an unincorporated association carrying on a trade or business, with or without a view to profit.

(2) In the Companies Acts references to shares—

(a) in relation to an undertaking with capital but no share capital, are to rights to share in the capital of the undertaking; and

(b) in relation to an undertaking without capital, are to interests—

(i) conferring any right to share in the profits or liability to contribute to the losses of the undertaking, or

(ii) giving rise to an obligation to contribute to the debts or expenses of the undertaking in the event of a winding up.

(3) Other expressions appropriate to companies shall be construed, in relation to an undertaking which is not a company, as references to the corresponding persons, officers, documents or organs, as the case may be, appropriate to undertakings of that description.

This is subject to provision in any specific context providing for the translation of such expressions.

(4) References in the Companies Acts to “fellow subsidiary undertakings” are to undertakings which are subsidiary undertakings of the same parent undertaking but are not parent undertakings or subsidiary undertakings of each other.

(5) In the Companies Acts “ group undertaking ”, in relation to an undertaking, means an undertaking which is—

(a) a parent undertaking or subsidiary undertaking of that undertaking, or

(b) a subsidiary undertaking of any parent undertaking of that undertaking.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)