Section 51: Pre-incorporation contracts, deeds and obligations

Companies Act 2006 · 2006 c. 46View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 4: A company's capacity and related matters

A contract that purports to be made by or on behalf of a company at a time when the company has not been formed has effect, subject to any agreement to the contrary, as one made with the person purporting to act for the company or as agent for it, and he is personally liable on the contract accordingly.

Subsection (1) applies—

to the making of a deed under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland, and
to the undertaking of an obligation under the law of Scotland,

as it applies to the making of a contract.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.