Articles of Association

Articles of Association are the printed regulations for the conduct of the business of a joint-stock company registered under the Companies Acts. They are stamped as a deed, and signed by the subscribers to the memorandum of association. These two documents are then registered by the registrar of joint-stock companies, who grants a certificate of incorporation. Each member is entitled to have a copy of the articles and memorandum for one shilling. The Companies Act, 1862, gives in Schedule A, model regulations (97 in number), which form the Articles of Association for every company limited by shares, except in so far as they may be expressly altered by the company. The most important articles deal with calls on shares, transfer of shares, forfeiture of shares, meetings, powers of directors, dividends, &c. See COMPANY.