Part 5

A company's name
Chapter 4

Other powers of the Secretary of State and the registrar

Provision of misleading information

Provision of misleading information etc
75
1
If it appears to the Secretary of State—
a
that misleading information has been given for the purposes of a company's registration by a particular name, or
b
that an undertaking or assurance has been given for that purpose and has not been fulfilled,
the Secretary of State may direct the company to change its name.
2
Any such direction—
a
must be given within five years of the company's registration by that name, and
b
must specify the period within which the company is to change its name.
2A
The period must be at least 28 days beginning with the date of the direction.
3
The Secretary of State may by a further direction extend the period within which the company is to change its name.
Any such direction must be given before the end of the period for the time being specified.
4
A direction under this section must be in writing.
4A
Where a direction is given under subsection (1), the registrar may omit from the material on the register that is available for public inspection any mention of the name to which the direction relates.
5
If a company fails to comply with a direction under this section, an offence is committed by—
a
the company, and
b
every officer of the company who is in default.
For this purpose a shadow director is treated as an officer of the company.
6
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
Pts. 1-39 (except for Pt. 7 and ss. 662-669), 45-47 extended (12.5.2011) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1265), art. 5(1), Sch. 1 para. 2
Pts. 1-39 modified (31.12.2020) by Regulation (EC) No. 2157/2001, Art. AAA1(3) (as inserted by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1298), regs. 1, 97 (with regs. 140-145) (as amended by S.I. 2020/523, regs. 1(2), 5(a)-(f)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))
Words in Pt. 5 Ch. 4 heading inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 19(2), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(o)
S. 75 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), regs. 2, 13 (as amended (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 11(3); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a))
S. 75 cross-heading inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 17(2), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(m)
Pt. 5 power to apply (with modifications) conferred (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), ss. 135, 154 (with Sch. 5)
S. 75(4A) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 14(5), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(j)
Pt. 5 power to apply (with modifications) conferred (E.W.S.) (1.12.2013) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act 2010 (c. 7), ss. 4(1)(2)(b), 8(2); S.I. 2013/2936, art. 2
S. 75(2A) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 13(4), 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(i)