Procedural Steps and Templates

Companies may choose to change their registered company name for a variety of reasons, either commercial or legal. Section 77 of the Companies Act 2006 sets out the procedure a company must follow in order to change its name.

A company may change its name by passing a special resolution, either in a general meeting or by the written resolution procedure. Alternatively if there is another means provided in the company’s articles of association, the company may choose to change its name using that method instead.

This month we have added a brand new subfolder to our Company Secretary & Administration set of templates specifically related to the procedure for changing a company’s registered name.

This new subfolder includes:

• a guidance note to assist customers in the process of choosing a company name (either on incorporation or name change) and the legal restrictions in place on name choice;
• the procedural documents required to complete the process of changing a company name, including board minutes, shareholder resolutions, letters, notices and minutes of shareholder meetings; and
• the subsequent Companies House forms that will need to be filed.

This subfolder will be of interest to company directors, secretaries and all those involved in the management and administration of companies.