Section 21 - Names of companies

(1) The last words of the name of a

(a) private company limited by shares shall be “Limited Company” or the abbreviation “LTD”;

(b) public company limited by shares shall be “Public Limited Company” or the abbreviation “PLC”;

(c) company limited by guarantee shall be “Limited by Guarantee” or the abbreviation “LBG”; and

(d) private company unlimited by shares shall be “Private Unlimited Company” or the abbreviation ‘PRUC’

(e) public company unlimited by shares shall be “Public Unlimited Company” or the abbreviation “PUC”.

(2) A company shall not be registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is misleading or undesirable.

(3) A company shall not be registered with a name of a company that has been dissolved within the preceding five years of the intended registration.

(4) A company may in writing change its name by special resolution and with the written approval of the Registrar.

(5) Where, through inadvertence or otherwise, a company on first registration or on registration by a new name is registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is misleading or undesirable, the company shall change the name of the company with the approval of the Registrar.

(6) Where the Registrar so directs within six months of the company being registered by that name, the company shall change the name within a period of six weeks from the date of the direction.

(7) Where the Registrar is of the opinion that by reason of a change in the objects of, or the nature of the business carried on by a company, the name under which the company is registered is misleading or undesirable, the Registrar may direct the company to change the name and the company shall change that name within six weeks of the direction, unless within that time the company has lodged an appeal to the Court against the direction.

(8) The Court shall cancel or confirm the direction and if the direction is confirmed, the company shall change the name within six weeks of the confirmation.

(9) Where a company defaults in complying with a direction under subsection (6), (7), or (8) the Registrar shall change the name of the company in the Register.

(10) Where a company defaults in complying with a direction under subsection (5), (6), (7) or (8), the company and any of the directors of the company that are cognisant of the default are liable to pay to the Registrar, an administrative penalty of twenty-five penalty units and a further penalty of fifty penalty units for each day that the default continues.

(11) Where a company changes the name of the company under this section, the Registrar shall record the new name in place of the former name, and shall issue a certificate of incorporation that indicates the change of name.

(12) Pursuant to subsection (11), the Registrar shall advertise the change in the Companies Bulletin, the website of the Office of the Registrar of Companies and in one daily newspaper published in the Republic and circulating in the district in which the registered office of the company is situated.

(13) A certificate or an advertisement in the Companies Bulletin under this section is conclusive evidence of the change to which the change of name relates.

(14) A change of name by a company shall not affect the rights or obligations of the company or render defective legal proceedings by or against the company, and legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against the company under the former name may be continued or commenced against the company under the new name.

(15) A company limited by shares existing at the commencement of this Act has six months within which to comply with paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1).