Can a phoenix company reuse the Name of the original liquidated company?
Prohibited Name - Reuse? - Exceptions listed in The Insolvency Rules 1986
The general rule is that there is a complete bar on the re-use of a liquidated company's registered name and trading name by a re-start phoenix company unless detailed Insolvency Rules are first followed.
The penalty for infringement of these Rules can be:
- imprisonment and a
- fine and
- personal liability for all of the debts of the successor company should that company also fail at some time in the futureIf you are interested in reading the law as set out in sections 216 and 217 of The Insolvency Act 1986 click here.
If you would like to read an actual case regarding an individual who breached section 216 click here.
Exceptions
There are three exceptions to the general rule that a successor phoenix company cannot re-use the original company registered name or trading name: If you are interested in :
- Reading about those three exceptions that are set out in the Insolvency Rules 1986 click here.
- Reading actual cases concerning applications to court for the re-use of company names click below:
The directors of a phoenix company must be careful to ensure that they have followed the Insolvency Rules regarding the reuse of a liquidated company's name - otherwise they are exposed to personal liability, disqualification and imprisonment.
