27. Names of companies

is undesirable;

is identical to the name of any other company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or corporation or to any registered business name;

is identical to a name reserved under subsection (12B), subsection (12B) as applied by section 357(2), or section 378(15), section 16 of the Business Names Registration Act 2014, section 23(4) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, section 17(4) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, subsection (12B) as applied by section 21(8) of the VCC Act, or subsection (12B) as applied by section 133(2) of the VCC Act; or

is a name of a kind that the Minister has directed the Registrar not to accept for registration.

it is identical to the name of a company that was dissolved —

unless, in a case where the company was dissolved following its winding up under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or

unless, in a case where the company was dissolved following its name being struck off the register under section 344 or 344A, a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date of dissolution;

it is identical to the business name of a person whose registration and registration of that business name has been cancelled under the Business Names Registration Act 2014 or had ceased under section 22 of that Act, unless a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cancellation or cessation;

it is identical to the name of a foreign company notice of the dissolution of which has been given to the Registrar under section 377(2), unless a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution;

it is identical to the name of a limited liability partnership that was dissolved —

unless, in a case where the limited liability partnership was dissolved following its winding up under section 39 of, and the Fifth Schedule to, the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or

unless, in a case where the limited liability partnership was dissolved following its name being struck off the register under section 63 of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date of dissolution;

it is identical to the name of a limited partnership that was cancelled or dissolved —

unless, in a case where the registration of the limited partnership was cancelled under section 14(1) or 19(4) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cancellation; or

unless, in a case where notice was lodged with the Registrar of Limited Partnerships that the limited partnership was dissolved under section 19(2) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, a period of at least one year has passed after the date of dissolution; or

it is identical to the name of a VCC that was dissolved —

unless, in a case where the VCC was dissolved following its winding up under Part 11 of the VCC Act, a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or

unless, in a case where the VCC was dissolved following its name being struck off the register under section 344 or 344A of this Act as applied by section 130B of the VCC Act, a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date of dissolution.

a name that is identical to the name of a foreign company registered under Division 2 of Part 11 —

in respect of which notice was lodged under section 377(1) that the foreign company has ceased to have a place of business in Singapore or ceased to carry on business in Singapore, if a period of at least 3 months has passed after the date of cessation; and

the name of which was struck off the register under section 377(8), (9) or (10), if a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date the name was so struck off; or

a name that is identical to the name of a limited partnership in respect of which notice was lodged under section 19(1) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that the limited partnership ceased to carry on business in Singapore, if a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cessation.

which is one that is not permitted to be registered under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (d);

which is one that is not permitted to be registered under subsection (1A) until the expiry of the relevant period mentioned in that subsection;

which is one that is permitted to be registered under subsection (1B) only after the expiry of the relevant period mentioned in that subsection;

which so nearly resembles the name of any other company, or any corporation, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or registered business name, as to be likely to be mistaken for it; or

the use of which has been restrained by an injunction granted under the Trade Marks Act 1998,the Registrar may direct the firstmentioned company to change its name, and the company must comply with the direction 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.

in the case of the Registrar’s decision under subsection (2) — by the company aggrieved by the decision within 30 days after the decision; and

in the case of the Registrar’s refusal to give a direction to a company under subsection (2) pursuant to an application under subsection (2A) — by the applicant aggrieved by the refusal within 30 days after being informed of the refusal.

the abbreviation “Pte.” in lieu of the word “Private” or the abbreviation “Sdn.” in lieu of the word “Sendirian” contained in the name of a company;

the abbreviation “Ltd.” in lieu of the word “Limited” or the abbreviation “Bhd.” in lieu of the word “Berhad” contained in the name of a company; or

any of such words in lieu of the corresponding abbreviation contained in the name of a company.

the name of an intended company; or

the name to which a company proposes to change its name.

the application is made in good faith; and

the name to be reserved is one in respect of which a company may be registered having regard to subsections (1), (1A) and (1B).

the name is for a company that is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or

it would be contrary to the national security or interest for the company to be registered.

if the Registrar approves the application — 60 days after the date on which the Registrar notifies the applicant that the application has been approved, or such further period of 60 days as the Registrar may, on application made in good faith, extend; or

if the Registrar refuses to approve the application — on the date on which the Registrar notifies the applicant of the refusal.

refusing to approve an application under subsection (10); or

refusing an application under subsection (12B)(a) to extend the reservation period,may, within 30 days after being informed of the Registrar’s decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.