This Act may be cited as the Companies Act 1976.

The [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948, Parts I and III of the [1967 c. 81.] Companies Act 1967, The [1972 c. 67.] Companies (Floating Charges and Receivers) (Scotland) Act 1972, section 9 of the [1972 c. 68.] European Communities Act 1972, sections 1 to 4 of the [1976 c. 47.] Stock Exchange (Completion of Bargains) Act 1976, section 9 of the [1976 c. 60.] Insolvency Act 1976 and this Act may be cited together as the Companies Acts 1948 to 1976.

This Act shall come into operation on such date as may be specified by the Secretary of State by order made by statutory instrument, and different dates may be so specified for different provisions and for different purposes.

Nothing in this Act except the provisions which relate to companies incorporated outside Great Britain shall apply to or in relation to companies registered or incorporated in Northern Ireland; and nothing in this Act shall affect the law in force in Northern Ireland at the passing of this Act.