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(Name clause of Memorandum of Association)

A company being a legal entity must have a name of its own to establish its Separate identity. The name of the company is a symbol of its independent corporate existence. The first clause in the Memorandum of Association of the company states the name by which a company is known. The company may adopt any suitable name provided it is not undesirable.

INTRODUCTION:

The Company after incorporation can change their name by following way:

(a) Conversion of name from private to public, or

(b) Conversion of name from public to private, or

(c) Change of name from ABC limited to XYZ limited.

Change in Name clause of the Company involves alteration of Memorandum of Association (hereinafter referred to as “Memorandum”) of the Company. Section 13 of Companies Act 2013 regulates the process of amendment in Memorandum of Association is applicable to all companies. All clauses of Memorandum except Capital clause can be altered by following the provisions of Section 13 of Companies Act, 2013 by passing special resolution.

Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013 deal with change of name which says that the name of the company can be changed by a special resolution and with the approval of the Central Government. Approval of Central Government is not required if the change relates to the addition/deletion of the words “private” to the name.

Sub Section- 2 of Section 4 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that no company shall be registered by name which:

  • Is identical with or resemble too nearly to the name of an existing company registered under this Act or any previous company law, or: [Section- 2 (a)]
  • will constitute an offence under any law for the time being in force, or: [Section- 2 (b)(i)]
  • is undesirable in the opinion of the Central Government. [Section- 2 (b)(Ii)].

Sub Section-3 without prejudice (Effect) to the provisions of sub-section (2) [as given above], a company shall not be registered with a name which contains unless the previous approval of the Central Government has been obtained for the use of any such word or expression:

  • any word or expression which is likely to give the impression that the company is in any way connected with, or having the patronage of, the Central Government, any State Government, or any local authority, corporation or body constituted by the Central Government or any State Government under any law for the time being in force; or [Section- 3 (a)].
  • Such word or expression, as may be prescribed. [Section- 3 (b)].

Alteration of Name shall not allow to following Companies:

The change of name shall not be allowed to a company:

  • which has not filed annual returns or financial statements due for filing with the Registrar or
  • which has failed to pay or repay matured deposits or debentures or interest thereon

STEPS FOR ALTERATION IN MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION:

STEP – I: Convey Board Meeting of Directors: (As per section 173 and SS-1)

  • Issue Notice of Board Meeting to all the directors of company at least 7 days before the date of Board Meeting.
  • Attach Agenda
  • Notes to Agenda
  • Draft Resolution

STEP – II: Held Board Meeting: (As per section 173 and SS-1)

  • Proposed new names for the company.
  • Pass Board Resolution after Selection of Names.
  • Authorize to Directors of Company to make Application with ROC for Name approval

STEP-III- File – e-form- RUN with ROC:

File form RUN with ROC for approval of name:

ATTACHMENTS:

√ Copy of Board Resolution.

√ Approval of Owner of Trade Mark or the applicant of such application

[If proposed name(s) are based on a registered Trade Mark or is a subject matter of an application pending for registration under the Trade Mark Act, 1999]

STEP-IV

[1]Name Approval Certificate from ROC, if applied name are available

STEP- V: Issue Notice of General Meeting: (Section 101)

Notice of EGM shall be given at least 21 days before the actual date of EGM. EGM can be called on Shorter Notice with the consent of at least majority in number and ninety five percent of such part of the paid up share capital of the company giving a right to vote at such a meeting:

  • All the Directors.
  • Members
  • Auditors of Company

The notice shall specify the place, date, day and time of the meeting and contain a statement on the business to be transacted at the EGM.

STEP- VI: Hold General Meeting: (Section 101)

  • Check the Quorum.
  • Check whether auditor is present, if not. Then Leave of absence is Granted or Not. (As per Section- 146).
  • Pass Special Resolution.[Section-114(2)]
  • Approval of Alteration in MOA.

STEP- VII: Filing of form with ROC: (Section 117)

A. File Form MGT-14 (Filing of Resolutions and agreements to the Registrar under section 117) with the Registrar along with the requisite filing within 30 days of passing the special resolution, along with given documents:-

ATTACHMENTS:

  • Certified True Copies of the Special Resolutions along with explanatory statement;
  • Copy of the Notice of meeting send to members along with all the annexure;
  • A printed copy of the Memorandum Article of Associations.
  • Copy of Attendance Sheet of General Meeting.
  • Shorter Notice Consent, if any.

B. File Form INC – 24 within 30 days of passing of Special Resolution

ATTACHMENTS:

  • Notice along with Explanatory Statements.
  • Certified True Copy of Special Resolution.
  • Altered in MOA & AOA.
  • Minutes of General Meeting

STEP- VIII: Issue of New Certificate:

After completing Above Procedure ROC will issue a New Certificate of Incorporation

A. Whether Stamp Duty required to pain on Alteration in Memorandum of Association (MOA)?

The Act does not contemplate new memorandum of association, and where it purports to be so, it is nothing more than a special resolution and as such does not require to be stamped.

B. Whether it is mandatory that name should reflect the Objects of the Company?

No it is not mandatory to reflect the objects of the Company in its Name. But if any word in name reflecting any business activity that should be companies objects only.

C. After approval of name up to what time name shall be available to use?

As per Companies Amendment Act, 2017 In case of alteration of Name. Name shall be reserved for 60 days from the date of approval of name.

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS:

I. A change of name under section 21 does not affect the rights and obligations of the company or render defective any legal proceedings by or against it, and any legal proceedings, which might have been continued or commenced by or against the company by its former name, may be continued by or against the company by its new name.

II. The company which has changed its name would be entitled to ask those companies in which it is holding shares, to substitute its old certificates by new ones.

[1] The name once approved valid for 60 days from the date of making of application.

(Author – CS Divesh Goyal, ACS is a Company Secretary in Practice from Delhi and can be contacted at csdiveshgoyal@gmail.com)

Read Other Articles Written by CS Divesh Goyal

(Republished with Amendments)

Author Bio

CS Divesh Goyal is Fellow Member of the Institute of Companies Secretaries and Practicing Company Secretary in Delhi and Steering Voice in the Corporate World. He is a competent professional having enrich post qualification experience of a decade with expertise in Corporate Law, FEMA, IBC, SEBI, View Full Profile

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33 Comments

  1. Megha B says:

    Hello Sir,
    I want to know “if i can file INC24 form after the approval of MGT14 or is it okay file within 30 days of EGM without the approval of MGT14?

  2. navneet says:

    my question is that a company change its name but can it change its business too and property which owned by privious company would be become new company’s property with paying stamp duty

  3. T.RAMYA says:

    In case of change in name of company , disclosure of former name along with new name shall be done for 2 years at which place ?? ( i.e, principal place of business or every where)

  4. Alkesh says:

    Hi Sir
    State Govt & Govt of India have jointly incorporated a Section 8 Company to promote Life Science Sector in the State.
    We wish to get the name changed from ‘Life Science Park’ to ‘ State LifeScience Corporation’ & applied for the same with MCA as we want to use words ‘State Name’ & ‘State’ after taking the consent from State Govt.
    Now, we learnt that Central Govt have completely prohibited to use words like name of State & State in the Name of any company including Govt Companies
    Please guide us in this matter, please also share any guidelines from MCA in this regard.
    Looking forward for your reply.

    Regards
    Dr Alkesh

  5. Ajeeth says:

    Hello Mr.Goyal,

    We’ve Incorporated a Pvt. Ltd Company in March This year and we’ve recently applied for a “Name Change” and the RUN also got Approved.

    Now we’re about to Submit the INC-24 & MGT -14 forms to complete the Name Change process, but we’re facing an absurd situation over here.

    As part of the MGT-14, we need to attach the Updated MoA & AoA forms reflecting the New Company Name, and we’re trying to fill the MoA & AoA forms downloaded from the MCA website with the Latest RUN Details, and further Copying the Other fields from the Old MoA & AoA, but our CA is saying that we should not do that way, and instead need to take a Printout of the Old MoA & AoA and Write / Paste New RUN Details & New Name of the Company on that Print-out & Scan that and Attach it to the MGT-14 form.

    He further claims that he should not Sign on these MoA & AoA, as during Incorporation they were signed by another CA. We’re finding this extremely silly and naive talk.

    Can you please give a Clarity on how the MoA & AoA should be modified to Reflect the Name Change!

  6. Neha Batra says:

    Whether Conversion from private to public Company will be considered as Name Change and do we have to write prev. name for 2 years along with the new name. Like:
    M/s ABC Ltd.
    (Formerly known as M/s ABC Pvt Ltd.)

    Pls. suggest.

    Thank you in anticipation.

  7. Aakanksha ganjoo says:

    Is it possible to rectify the name of company? I mean if there is mistake in company name can it b rectified? If yes what is the procedure?

  8. Sheetal says:

    Dear Divesh sir,

    I submitted INC 24 along with minutes of EGM.
    But it is marked as Sent for resubmission with the remarks-

    “providing information about whether the company has altered its name whether any prosecution ,& the charges has
    open, if so, the details of the same”

    INC 24 do not have any point on prosecution and charges.
    Please guide me how should I proceed.

  9. Chakravarthy says:

    for change of name of the company forms required to file are Form MGT 14 for registration of resolutions and Form INC 24 for change of name of the company by giving approved srn number in the forms.

    regards

  10. Kavita Bulchandani says:

    Yes, both MOA and AOA require alteration in case of change of name (clause 4 of AOA changes). And INC-24 is required to be files not INC-27 I second Mr. Akash Bansal.

  11. Manoharan says:

    My question is – in case of name change /or change in main object of a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, does it required to alter Memorandum (complete) according to Companies Act, 2013?

    Thanks in advance.

  12. shweta says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    Yes, we have to alter AOA as we have to change name of the company in AOA also.

    I would like to know as Fresh COI contains old name of the company also. Whether that COI will continue forever or there is any option to get COI with changed name only.

    Is it necessary to display old name of the company at all places forever…????

  13. Akash Bansal says:

    The final form should be INC-24 instead of INC-27. In my view INC-27 is required to be filed in case of conversion of Private Co. to Public or vice-versa.

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