Articles of Association in UK Private Companies: An Empirical Leximetric Study

Abstract The final provisions of the UK’s Companies Act 2006 have now been in force for 10 years. Part this regime included a new form model constitution, known as Model Articles. This article uses empirical data to establish whether Articles used practice or not. To do so, it tracks constitutions sample companies (those incorporated Scotland October 2009) from their incorporation until December 2017. It undertakes leximetric methodology code 12 variables across constitutions, with 0 being coded convergence default and 1 divergence regime. results show that majority not deviate regime, other than one respect: most allowed ability appoint alternate directors. More importantly, however, dataset shows few amended articles association following incorporation, there is strong correlation between certain coding patterns presenter, formation agent, incorporate company.