The Secretary of State may direct a company to change its name if it appears to the Secretary of State that the name has been used, or is intended to be used, by the company to facilitate—
The direction must be in writing and must specify the period within which the company is to change its name.
The period must be a period of at least 28 days beginning with the date of the direction.
A company may apply to the court to set aside a direction under subsection (1).
Any application under subsection (5) must be made within the period of three weeks beginning with the date of the direction.
On an application under subsection (5) the court may set the direction aside or confirm it.
If on an application under subsection (5) the direction is confirmed, the court must specify the period within which the direction is to be complied with.
Where a direction is given under subsection (1), the registrar may omit from the material on the register that is available for public inspection any mention of the name to which the direction relates.
If a company applies to the court under subsection (5) to set aside a direction, the company is not required to comply with the direction while the proceedings are ongoing.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.