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Companies Bill [Lords]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following amendments: No. 359, in page 128, line 21, at end insert"‘but may at its discretion appoint a secretary (or joint secretaries)’." Government amendments Nos. 771 and 772. No. 360, in page 128, line 22, after ‘company’, insert ‘not having a secretary’. No. 361, in page 128, line 32, at end insert— ‘(3) In the event that a company is not entitled to the exemption conferred by section 485(1) (small companies conditions for exemption from audit) in respect of its last completed financial year, the company shall be required to appoint a company secretary within three months of the date that the directors first became aware that such exemption would not be available to the company. (4) In the event that subsection (3) shall apply, the relevant company shall be required to have a company secretary until such time as the company satisfies the conditions contained in subsections (2) or (3) of section 485.’. No. 363, in clause 272, page 128, line 36, leave out ‘public’. No. 364, page 128, line 36, at end insert ‘section 270 or’. Government amendment No. 773. No. 365, in clause 274, page 130, line 7, leave out ‘public company’ and insert ‘company required to have a secretary under section 270 or 271’. Government amendments Nos. 366, 367, 776, 368, 304, 441, 369, 370 and 728. No. 24, in clause 281, page 132, line 29, at beginning insert— ‘( ) An authorised corporate signatory is a person who, by virtue of his office, is authorised to sign documents of any description on behalf of the company.’. No. 371, page 132, line 31, leave out ‘in the case of a public company,’. No. 25, page 132, line 34, leave out subsection (2). Government amendment No. 729. No. 372, in clause 282, page 133, line 3, leave out ‘, in the case of a public company,’. Government amendments Nos. 373 and 731. No. 374, in clause 284, page 133, line 28, after ‘company,’, insert— ‘(aa) in the case of a private company which has appointed a company secretary, that its secretary (or any of its joint secretaries) are also authorised signatories in relation to the company,’. Government amendment No. 732. No. 375, in clause 285, page 134, line 7, at end insert ‘provided that in the case of a director or secretary of the company this requirement shall be satisfied by the insertion of the statement set out in section 284(3)(b).’. Government amendments Nos. 733, 734, 723 to 727, 781, 735, 782, 783, 736, 737, 764, 765, 721, 766, 722 and 767 to 769.