What is Company Name Change?
A company name change is the formal process of operating under a new name by amending the Name Clause of the Memorandum of Association (MOA). It is governed by Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013. Importantly, a name change does not create a new company — the company's legal entity, rights, obligations, and pending legal proceedings all continue unchanged under the new name.
The process requires approval from shareholders via Special Resolution, name availability verification via the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) facility, and filing of Form INC-24 with the Registrar of Companies.
Common Reasons for Company Name Change
- Business expansion into new markets or industries
- Ownership/management change after acquisition or merger
- Rebranding for competitive positioning or marketing strategy
- Trademark conflict resolution
- Converting from private to public company structure
- ROC directive requiring name change (inappropriate or misleading name)
Key Legal Requirements
- Proposed name must not be identical to or closely resemble existing company names
- Must not violate the Emblems & Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950
- Must not create false impression of government association
- Companies with outstanding filing defaults or unpaid deposits cannot apply
- New Certificate of Incorporation (INC-25) issued after approval — has same CIN
Timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|
| RUN Name Check | 1–3 working days |
| EGM Notice Period | 21 days minimum |
| MGT-14 + INC-24 Filing | Within 30 days of Special Resolution |
| ROC Approval | 5–15 working days |
| Total Process | 10–15 working days (post-EGM) |
