A client has set up a standard private limited by shares company have a name ending in "un" to read "ABC Company Un Limited". Do any AWEB members have experience of this? Could this cause the shareholders problems over liability at a later date a creditor claims they thought the company was an unlimited company?
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I don't think...
... you can have a company name that suggests some sort of affiliation with the United Nations.
How?
I've seen such companies in the past, but not had experience of dealing with them.
It's a limited company with a name acceptable under under UK company law so how could there be a problem? It's notepaper, invoices etc will (should) clearly show it as Ltd or limited. If a creditior is daft enought not to spot it I don't think they could have any recourse.
Look on Companies House website - webcheck. Type 'unlimited' in the company name search box. The first one on the list is 'Unlimited Limited' and the list goes on by the score.
I have a client called xxxxx un limited. He set the company up long before he became my client and no one has ever objected. I was surprised but there you go.
If I was Companies House ...
If I was Companies House I wouldn't allow it as I would have thought the only reason would be to deceive people.
Odd if you ask me!
If I was Companies House I wouldn't allow it as I would have thought the only reason would be to deceive people.
I haven't personally seen an "un" company before but I think I would be very careful dealing with one if they approached me as I can only think they are trying to deceive people with the name. Unless of course it is a Welsh company as stated above.
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@ Peter, isn't it just a naff attempt to be clever with the name?
Ie being called Accountants Un Limited, strap line being "accountants without limits"
Sort of crap our old presumably banned friend Bob would be up for.
Used often in Welsh
'Un' is the Welsh word for 'One' and is used often in company names. It's more common for the company name to end in 'Cyf' than it's English equivalent 'Ltd' but I have seen numerous examples where 'Ltd' has been used.
Deception?
It may be in the general sense legal to use the name provided Companies House raise no objections ....
However ... should the company run into financial difficulties, creditors could claim that they were led to believe that the name indicated it was unlimited.
I guess the circumstances would determine if whether the courts decided the company owners had intended to deceive such as:
- length of operation of the company - if going for 50 years presumably less likely
- other correspondence that may have have been stressing the name, or having it written in typeface that made it read more like unlimited (raher than un limited)
- the circumstances of the credit difficulties (normal unfortunate trading or dodgy dealing)
- add your own!
Not sure whether proceedings would be criminal/civil or both!
Sports Shoes Unlimited
As a point of information I do remember buying trainers at 'Sports Shoes Unlimited'.
I do not know whether they were actually Sports Shoes Unlimited Limited!
And what about
My broadband provider is Be - full name BeUn Ltd. So it is allowed.
Shogun Ltd
In both those examples, though, the "un" is an integral part of the name. Showing it separately (especially if careful use of spacing, ala some car number plates, is used on stationery etc) might be considered a little devious.
What's the company number?
My broadband provider is Be - full name BeUn Ltd. So it is allowed.
I can't find it on Companies House website.
Perfectly legal but why?
Check out Brayford One Unlimited. You'll find this on Companies House but I'm not sure if the Mem & Arts are any different to a standard private ltd.
Brayford One
You've missed the point. That company was unlimited. the question is about using "Un" as a separate part of a limited company's name, apparently in an attempt to mislead folks into thinking it's unlimited.
It's the use not the name that may be illegal
I'm sure that un at the end may be 'legal' provided Companies House allow it.
Mine and others point is that if the name is used to attempt to make people think the company is unlimited then it is that USE that may be illegal.