As modified by the Companies Act 2006
Company Names
GBF2
October 2008
Version 20
Contents
October 2008 - Version 20 As modified by the Companies Act 2006 Page 2 of 34
When reading these guidance notes, you need to be aware of the following:
Some (but not all) of the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 have come into force.
Therefore, some provisions in the Companies Act 1985 remain relevant. We have
tried as far as possible to make it clear throughout these notes which Act applies. If
you would like to find out more you may wish to visit our website at
www.companieshouse.gov.uk where you can find out which provisions in the
respective Acts are in force. Our website also contains a link to the BERR (The
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) website
www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/co-act-2006 where you can find further information. Some
provisions in the 2006 Act are subject to transitional arrangements. We will as far as
possible explain these in this guidance and give details on our website.
All the 2006 Act provisions relating to company and business names are due to come
into force on 1 October 2009. We will update any guidance notes affected by those
implementations at the time. You may wish also to refer regularly to our website
where we will publish more information as the implementation process continues so
you can access the most up-to-date information.
Until October 2009, this guidance notes apply only to companies formed in Great
Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). On that date the separate system in Northern
Ireland is scheduled to merge into a single system for the whole of the United
Kingdom.
October 2008 - Version 20 As modified by the Companies Act 2006 Page 3 of 34
Contents
Introduction
1. Choosing a company name
2. Change of company name and change of status
3. Sensitive words and expressions
4. Exemption from