Company Name Change
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Give your business a new name, the right way.
Businesses often change their name when they rebrand, grow or change direction. A company name cannot be changed by simply using a new one. The change must be approved, usually by a resolution of the shareholders, and then filed with the public register. We guide you through each step and prepare the notices needed. Once the filing is accepted, your company is officially known by its new name. Forms covered: NM01, NM03, NM04, NM05, NM06.
NM01 Notice of Change of Name by Resolution (Version 7.0, 11/25)
Purpose
NM01 is made under section 78 of the Companies Act 2006 and is used to give notice of an unconditional change of name by the company members. It cannot be used to give notice of a conditional change of name.
Deadlines
The form does not print a deadline. The name cannot change until the resolution has been received, and GOV.UK sets 15 days for reporting changes to the constitution or articles.
Requirements
The proposed name must be available and comply with the rules on names; duplicate names are not permitted. If the name contains sensitive or restricted words, form NM06 and the supporting information must be provided before the name can be changed. The company name and number must match the public register, a copy of the resolution must be attached unless previously filed, the form authenticated and the £30 fee enclosed, paid by cheque or postal order payable to Companies House.
Filing Process
Section 1 gives the company number and the existing company name in full. Section 2 gives the proposed name, which is first checked on the Companies House name availability search. Section 3 is the authentication by printed name (no signature is needed) on behalf of the company. A copy of the resolution is attached unless it has been filed previously.
NM03 Notice Confirming Satisfaction of a Conditional Resolution for Change of Name (Version 5.0, 05/24)
Purpose
NM03 is made under section 78 of the Companies Act 2006 and is used to give notice that the conditions of a conditional resolution to change a company name have been satisfied. It cannot be used to give notice of a change of name by conditional resolution or by resolution.
Deadlines
The form does not print a deadline. It is filed once the conditions of the conditional resolution have been met.
Requirements
The company name and number must match the public register, the proposed name must be given in section 2, a copy of the conditional resolution must be attached unless previously filed, the form authenticated and the £30 fee enclosed (cheque or postal order payable to Companies House). If the proposed name contains sensitive or restricted words, form NM06 and supporting information must be provided first.
Filing Process
Section 1 gives the company number and the existing company name in full. Section 2 gives the proposed name and the confirmation that the condition or conditions in the conditional resolution have now been met. Section 3 is the authentication by printed name (no signature is needed) on behalf of the company. A copy of the conditional resolution is attached unless it has been filed previously.
NM04 Notice of Change of Name by Means Provided for in the Articles (Version 5.0, 05/24)
Purpose
NM04 is made under section 79 of the Companies Act 2006 and is used to give notice of a change of name by means provided for in the company’s articles. It cannot be used to give notice of a change of name by any means other than those provided in the articles.
Requirements
The company name and number must match the public register, the proposed name must be provided in section 2, the form authenticated and the £30 fee enclosed (cheque or postal order payable to Companies House). If the proposed name contains sensitive or restricted words, form NM06 and supporting information must be provided before the name can be changed. The form may be authenticated by a director, secretary, person authorised, liquidator, administrator, administrative receiver, receiver, receiver manager, Charity Commission receiver and manager or CIC manager.
Filing Process
Section 1 gives the company number and the existing company name in full. Section 2 gives the proposed name together with the confirmation that the change of name is being made by means provided for in the company’s articles. Section 3 is the authentication by printed name (no signature is needed) on behalf of the company.
NM06 Request to Seek Comments of a Government Department or Other Specified Body on Change of Name (Version 5.0, 03/26)
Purpose
NM06 is made under section 56 of the Companies Act 2006 and may only be used to confirm that consent has been sought to use sensitive or restricted words in a company name on a change of name. It cannot be used as part of an application to register a new company.
Deadlines
The form does not print a deadline. The name change cannot be completed until the response from the government department or other specified body has been received.
Requirements
The company name and number must match the public register, the proposed name must be given in section 2, the box in section 2 ticked if the name contains sensitive or restricted words and the form signed. The Registrar cannot change the name until a copy of any response from the government department or other specified authority has been received.
Filing Process
Section 1 gives the company number and the existing company name in full. Section 2 gives the proposed name and a box that is ticked to confirm the company has requested authorisation from a government department or other specified body to include sensitive or restricted words or expressions in the proposed name. Section 3 is the signature on behalf of the company.
NE01 Exemption from “Limited” or “Cyfyngedig” on Change of Name (Version 5.0, 03/26)
Purpose
NE01 is made under section 60 of the Companies Act 2006 and is used to drop “limited” or “cyfyngedig” from the company name on a change of name if the company is limited by guarantee. It cannot be used to drop “limited” or “cyfyngedig” when incorporating a company, which is done on form IN01. Only private companies limited by guarantee that meet specific requirements are eligible.
Requirements
The company name and number must match the public register, the box in section 2 must be ticked and the form signed. It may be signed by a director, secretary, person authorised, a director, secretary, principal officer or manager on behalf of a joint stock or non-joint stock company, a Charity Commission receiver and manager or a judicial factor. .
Filing Process
Section 1 gives the company number and the existing company name in full. Section 2 is the statement, where the box is ticked to confirm that the company meets the conditions for exemption from the requirement to have a name ending with “limited” or “cyfyngedig” or a permitted alternative. Section 3 is the signature on behalf of the company.