| Description | Files in this series record the process from the creation and registration of a company with the Companies Registry on the Isle of Man until its dissolution. On creation by the Companies Registry, files were arranged by registration number and chronological order. However, when a registered company was dissolved the Companies Registry retrieved the file from the sequence and stored files relating to dissolved companies separately. This series contains the files for dissolved companies only. Records relating to live registered companies are still held by the Companies Registry.
For companies dissolved between 1865-1981, all surviving files have been retained. From 1982 onwards, files were selected for preservation at the Public Record Office based on a selection criteria (see appraisal field for details) and only a sample of dissolved company files have been retained.
Each dissolved company record should contain the following minimum documentation::
- registration certificate;
- memorandum and articles of association;
- nomination of directors;
- particulars of directors or managers and a summary of capital and shares;
- notice of appointment of receiver;
- receiver's statement of receipts and payments;
- notices to begin striking-off procedures.
The procedure for registration of companies and the contents of these files changed over time, and a number of company files may contain substantially more documents than the minimum. Additional documents may include: return of allotments; annual returns; mortgage details and resolutions passed at extraordinary general meetings. A number of companies may have more than one file. |
| Administrative History | Registered company files were created by the Isle of Man Companies Act 1865. The longer title of the Act read 'An Act for Incorporation, Winding-up and Regulation of Trading Companies and other Associations'. Dissolved company files have been extracted from the full series of registered company files. Originally, the Companies Registry was based in the office of the Registration of Deeds, later, within the Rolls Office. When General Registry was created by a Tynwald Act in 1965, Companies Registry became a division. On 1st April 2000 responsibility was transferred from General Registry and Companies Registry became part of the Financial Supervision Commission with the passing of the 'Companies (Transfer of Functions) Act 2000'. As part of the Review of the Scope and Structure of the Isle of Man Government the Companies Registry was moved to the new Department of Economic Development in April 2010. The Companies Registry became part of the Central Registry under the jurisdiction of the Registrar General under the Central Registry Act 2018. |
| Custodial History | Accessions 5, 7 and 16 were transferred from the Manx Museum Library and Archives. They originated from Companies Registry which at various periods was based in the office of Registration of Deeds, the Rolls Office and General Registry.
Accession 8 came from Companies Registry when they were based at General Registry. Accession 9 came from Companies Registry when they were based with the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) and Accession 10 came after Companies Registry was moved into the Department of Economic Development (DED). |