Companies Bill [H.L.] A bill intituled an act to amend the law relating to company accounts; to make new provision with respect to the persons eligible for appointment as company auditors; to amend the Companies Act 1985 and certain other enactments with respect to investigations and powers to obtain information and to confer new powers exercisable to assist overseas regulatory authorities; to make new provision with respect to the registration of company charges and otherwise to amend the law relating to companies; to amend the Fair Trading Act 1973; to enable provision to be made for the payment of fees in connection with the exercise by the Secretary of State; the Director General of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of their functions under part V of that act; to make provision for safeguarding the operation of certain financial markets; to amend the Financial Services Act 1986, the Insolvency Act 1986, the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 and the law relating to building societies; and for connected purposes [electronic resource].