Buying Dissolved Ltd Company Name

[julian]

Does anyone know of any hidden issues when buying a dissolved companies name. (Ltd uk)

Thanks.

 

[Skinner]

You can't without masses of cash, I looked into this last year.

If the company is in the process of dissolving, you can buy it from the liquidator (if you pay them enough to be bothered), but once its dissolved only the original directors can apply to recover it, and should it be recovered it wasn't clear what the liabilities would be. Even in these circumstances there is no guarantee it will be reinstated under the original name.

If you get any further information I'd love to hear it as I'm kinda gutted on the rules for companies

Edit: my thread is here http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/business-discussions/120054-buying-business-name-administration.html

 

[KarlM]

I have never had any luck either, they usually want stupid money!

 

[anthony]

Does anyone know of any hidden issues when buying a dissolved companies name. (Ltd uk)

Thanks.

If it's a ltd.uk name you're after, can't you simply register a new company for £25 under that name, then get the ltd.uk that way?

 

[retired_member34]

I did this, if it is already dissolved, then go for it. If it is only in administration, see the previous replies.

Treat it the same as buying a dropped domain though. Does the company name have a shit online reputation that your new company is going to be confused with?

 

[Skinner]

GeoMal, can you clarify a little, what exactly you did ?

The main reason you buy a dissolved company is because you can't simply register that combination of words, because its blocked by a similar name.

 

[julian]

presumably you don't pick up the old debtors

I did this, if it is already dissolved, then go for it. If it is only in administration, see the previous replies.

Treat it the same as buying a dropped domain though. Does the company name have a shit online reputation that your new company is going to be confused with?

 

[Edwin]

presumably you don't pick up the old debtors

You might pick up the old complaints (reviews, blog posts etc.) since the old content will remain out there regardless of what you do afterwards.

 

[retired_member34]

GeoMal, can you clarify a little, what exactly you did ?

The main reason you buy a dissolved company is because you can't simply register that combination of words, because its blocked by a similar name.

I'm not sure what you are asking. You can't buy a dissolved company, if it is dissolved then it doesn't exist. You can reinstate a dissolved company if you were a former director or member. You can buy the assets (for example a trademark) of a dissolved company, if any exist, as they will have been transferred to the Crown on dissolution, from which you can buy them via the Treasury Solicitor (think that's the name).

I simply wanted to use the same name as a dissolved company, so registered my company in that name. This doesn't help if the name is likely to be objected to.

 

[retired_member34]

presumably you don't pick up the old debtors

No. It might have the same name but it will be a different legal entity with a different registration number.

 

[sdsinc]

If it's a ltd.uk name you're after, can't you simply register a new company for £25 under that name, then get the ltd.uk that way?

I truly doubt he's after a .ltd.uk domain :-?

 

[Skinner]

Argh I think both myself and julian are looking to reinstate a company to get a name, where a new registration would be objected too.

Rather than just a random dissolved name.

I'm not sure what you are asking. You can't buy a dissolved company, if it is dissolved then it doesn't exist. You can reinstate a dissolved company if you were a former director or member. You can buy the assets (for example a trademark) of a dissolved company, if any exist, as they will have been transferred to the Crown on dissolution, from which you can buy them via the Treasury Solicitor (think that's the name).

I simply wanted to use the same name as a dissolved company, so registered my company in that name. This doesn't help if the name is likely to be objected to.

 

[anthony]

I truly doubt he's after a .ltd.uk domain :-?

The OP hinted otherwise.

 

[Edwin]

Some very simple, generic company names may themselves have a certain appeal (setting aside the domain name side of things). More credibility, and all that jazz...

 

[retired_member34]

Some very simple, generic company names may themselves have a certain appeal (setting aside the domain name side of things). More credibility, and all that jazz...

That's why I did it, a nice single word. I did use the .ltd.uk, but only for email!

 

[julian]

I just want the company name for something as it's very very good.

The problem is it's a made up word like a brand name - e.g. like owning

eHarmony Ltd

They did trade under it for only 2 years.

There does seem to be some IPO text reg'd in the same class I need to use it for, whether this presents an issue later requires investigation. Thanks all for your thoughts though. :-|

 

[Skinner]

Do you mind sharing the name ? I'm just curious what sort of word had no objectors, or potentials.

Every 1 word (dictionary) had potential objectors that I considered, I was looking for as Edwin said a matching domain and business name.

That's why I did it, a nice single word. I did use the .ltd.uk, but only for email!

It annoyed me somewhat, how broad their "matching" was.

 

[retired_member34]

I just want the company name for something as it's very very good.

The problem is it's a made up word like a brand name - e.g. like owning

eHarmony Ltd

They did trade under it for only 2 years.

There does seem to be some IPO text reg'd in the same class I need to use it for, whether this presents an issue later requires investigation. Thanks all for your thoughts though. :-|

Is the trademark in the dissolved companies name? If so just buy it from the Crown, last I heard the going rate was around £1500. Look up bono vacantia.

I know a couple of people who have resurrected 1980s niche brands in this manner, on a fairly small scale.

Do you mind sharing the name ? I'm just curious what sort of word had no objectors, or potentials.

Every 1 word (dictionary) had potential objectors that I considered, I was looking for as Edwin said a matching domain and business name.

It annoyed me somewhat, how broad their "matching" was.

I used Word Ltd, and wordmodifier.co.uk (it wasn't public facing), there are 50 other companies whose name starts in Word, including one since set up as Word & Co Ltd.

I went through a similar process recently but this time I used Word Modifier Ltd and word.co.uk, which I found much easier, and the company name doesn't really matter until someone writes a cheque.

I'll pm you the words

 

[julian]

the company name doesn't really matter until someone writes a cheque.

That's the crux of it.