{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/companies-act-2006/section-971",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/companies-act-2006/section-971.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/46",
  "legislation_title": "Companies Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/companies-act-2006",
  "path": "section/971",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "971",
  "heading": "Interpretation of this Chapter",
  "text": "(1) In this Chapter—\n...\n“offeror”, in relation to a takeover bid, means the person making the bid;\n“offer period”, in relation to a takeover bid, means the time allowed for acceptance of the bid by—\n(a)rules under section 943(1) made in accordance with paragraph 13 of Schedule 1C;\n“opted-in company” means a company in relation to which—\n(a)an opting-in resolution has effect, and\n(b)the conditions in section 966(2) and (4) continue to be met;\n“opting-in resolution” has the meaning given by section 966(1);\n“opting-out resolution” has the meaning given by section 966(5);\n“takeover bid” has the meaning given by paragraph 20(1) of Schedule 1C;\n...\n“voting rights” means rights to vote at general meetings of the company in question, including rights that arise only in certain circumstances;\n“voting shares” means shares carrying voting rights.\n(2) For the purposes of this Chapter—\n(a) securities of a company are treated as shares in the company if they are convertible into or entitle the holder to subscribe for such shares;\n(b) debentures issued by a company are treated as shares in the company if they carry voting rights.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 971(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Takeovers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/217), regs. 1, 11(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 971(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Takeovers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/217), regs. 1, 11(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 971(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Takeovers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/217), regs. 1, 11(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 971(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Takeovers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/217), regs. 1, 11(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 971(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Takeovers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/217), regs. 1, 11(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 966-973 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Unregistered Companies Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2436), regs. 3-5, Sch. 1 para. 14(1) (with transitional provisions and savings in regs. 7, 9, Sch. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/971",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:13:40.060156+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}