Change of name
28.—(1)  A company may by special resolution resolve that its name should be changed to a name by which the company could have been registered without contravention of section 27(1).
(2)  If the Registrar approves the name which the company has resolved should be its new name, he shall register the company under the new name and issue to the company a notice of incorporation of the company under the new name and, upon the issue of such notice, the change of name shall become effective.
[12/2002]
(3)  If the name of a company is, whether through inadvertence or otherwise or whether originally or by a change of name —
(a)a name by which the company could not be registered without contravention of section 27(1);
(b)a name that so nearly resembles the name of another company or corporation or a business name as to be likely to be mistaken for it; or
(c)a name the use of which has been restrained by an injunction granted under the Trade Marks Act (Cap. 332),
the company may by special resolution change its name to a name that is not referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and, if the Registrar so directs, shall so change it within 6 weeks after the date of the direction or such longer period as the Registrar may allow, unless the direction is annulled by the Minister.
[21/2005]
(3A)  Any person may apply in writing to the Registrar to give a direction to a company under subsection (3) on a ground referred to in that subsection; but the Registrar shall not consider any application to give a direction to a company on the ground referred to in subsection (3)(b) unless the Registrar receives the application within 12 months from the date of change of name of the company.
[12/2002]
(3B)  If the company fails to comply with subsection (3), the company and its officers shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and also to a default penalty.
[12/2002]
(3C)  The Registrar may, if he is satisfied that the company to which the direction under subsection (3) was given had applied for registration under the name first-mentioned in that subsection in bad faith, require the company to pay the Registrar such fees as may be prescribed by the Minister, and such fees shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Government.
[21/2005]
(3D)  A company aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar under subsection (3) or (3C) may within 30 days of the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
[21/2005]
(3E)  For the avoidance of doubt, where the Registrar makes a decision under subsection (3) or the Minister makes a decision under subsection (3D), he shall accept as correct any decision of the Court to grant an injunction referred to in subsection (3)(c).
[21/2005]
(4)  Where the name of a company incorporated pursuant to any corresponding previous written law has not been changed since 29th December 1967, the Registrar shall not, except with the approval of the Minister, exercise his power under subsection (3) to direct the company to change its name.
[S 258/67]
(5)  Upon the application of a company and payment of the prescribed fee, the Registrar shall issue to the company a certificate, under his hand and seal, confirming the incorporation of the company under the new name.
[12/2002]
(6)  A change of name pursuant to this Act shall not affect the identity of the company or any rights or obligations of the company or render defective any legal proceedings by or against the company, and any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced by or against it by its former name may be continued or commenced by or against it by its new name.
[UK, 1948, s. 18; Aust., 1961, s. 23]