Company Name Change Services in India – Section 13 MoA Alteration, Special Resolution, MCA RUN Reservation, INC-24 Approval & Fresh Certificate of Incorporation

Changing a company's name is a structured, multi-stage process under Section 13 of the Companies Act 2013 and the Companies (Incorporation) Rules 2014 — requiring a special resolution of shareholders, RUN (Reserve Unique Name) name reservation on the MCA portal, MGT-14 filing of the special resolution, an application for the new name in Form INC-24, and ultimately the issue of a fresh Certificate of Incorporation (Form INC-25) by the Registrar of Companies (RoC). The change is not effective until the new Certificate of Incorporation is issued — until then, the company must continue to use the old name on all communications, invoices, and statutory filings. A name change carries no impact on the company's legal identity (CIN remains unchanged in essence — only the alphabetic component changes), tax registrations, contractual obligations, or PAN — but it does require downstream updates across PAN, GST, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, IEC, RBI, banks, MSME / Udyam, FSSAI, Trade Licence, RERA, professional licences, intellectual property registrations, and digital identities.

Our company name change services handle the complete end-to-end transition for Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, OPCs, Section 8 (NPO) Companies, Producer Companies, and Foreign Subsidiaries — name search and availability check against MCA database, similar-sounding name and trademark conflict screening, RUN form filing (with up to 2 name proposals + 1 resubmission), board resolution drafting, EGM notice and special resolution, MGT-14 filing within 30 days, INC-24 application with fee + altered MoA / AoA, RoC approval and fresh Certificate of Incorporation, and a downstream change-management dossier covering PAN re-issuance, GST amendment, TAN update, EPFO / ESIC update, IEC modification, Udyam update, RBI Form FC-GPR / FC-TRS amendment, bank stationery, signage, website, email, social handles, contracts, and trademark / copyright records. Whether the change is for rebranding, M&A integration, founder split, business pivot, court order, or RoC direction — we deliver a clean, compliant, and downstream-complete name transition.

Sec 13
Companies Act 2013
Special
Resolution Required
RUN
Name Reservation
INC-25
Fresh CoI Issued
Provisions & Forms We Work Under
Sec 13 – MoA Alteration
Sec 4(2) – Name Rules
Sec 16 – Rectification
Sec 117 – Resolution Filing
RUN – Name Reservation
MGT-14 – Resolution
INC-24 – Approval
INC-25 – Fresh CoI
Companies Incorp. Rules

Company Name Change Use Cases We Handle

Rebranding

Strategic Rebrand

Voluntary rebranding to reflect new positioning, market expansion, or refreshed identity — full Sec 13 process with downstream change-management.

  • Brand-strategy alignment
  • Trademark conflict scan
  • RUN reservation
  • EGM / special resolution
  • INC-24 approval
  • Downstream rollout
M&A

Post-M&A / Acquisition

Name change post acquisition — adopting the parent / acquirer's brand, sub-brand, or co-branded identity following share purchase or strategic deal.

  • Acquirer brand alignment
  • Co-branding option
  • Holding-company suffix
  • Acquirer board approval
  • Coordinated regulator update
  • Investor communication
Business Pivot

Pivot / Activity Change

Business has pivoted to a new line, market, or industry — name no longer reflects activity; combined name change + objects clause amendment.

  • Pivot rationale
  • MoA objects amendment
  • Aligned name choice
  • NIC code refresh
  • Sec 13 special resolution
  • Customer communication
Founder Split

Founder Split / Demerger

Founder buyout, demerger, or family separation — surviving entity rebrands to drop legacy founder / family branding.

  • Family deed alignment
  • Surviving-entity rebrand
  • Settlement integration
  • Trademark transition
  • Stakeholder messaging
  • RoC + tax update
Sec 16 / RoC Order

Sec 16 / Court / RoC Direction

RoC / court direction under Sec 16 to change a name found identical / too similar to an existing name or trademark — time-bound rectification.

  • Sec 16 notice response
  • Trademark registry view
  • Time-bound rectification
  • Penalty defence
  • Replacement name
  • Registry & record reset
Conversion

Conversion-Driven Change

Conversion of OPC to Pvt Ltd, Pvt Ltd to Public Ltd, or Pvt Ltd to LLP — suffix change (e.g., "Private Limited" to "Limited") forms part of the name change.

  • OPC → Pvt Ltd
  • Pvt Ltd → Public Ltd
  • Suffix update
  • Conversion alignment
  • Capital / member rules
  • Downstream sync

Key Name-Change Concepts You Must Know

Sec 13(2)

Special Resolution

Name change requires a special resolution (75%+ majority) at an EGM / postal ballot, followed by Central Government approval (delegated to RoC via INC-24).

75%+ Majority EGM / Postal
RUN

Reserve Unique Name

RUN web service on MCA portal — up to 2 name proposals per submission, 1 free resubmission. Reserved name is valid for 60 days from approval.

2 Names 60 Days Valid
Sec 4(2)

Name Restrictions

Name cannot be identical / too similar to existing name, registered trademark, or undesirable per Companies (Incorporation) Rules — including emblems, foreign-state names, and restricted words.

Trademark Check Restricted Words
MGT-14

Resolution Filing – 30 Days

Special resolution must be filed in Form MGT-14 within 30 days of passing — late filing attracts additional fees and is a precondition for INC-24 approval.

30 Days Sec 117
INC-24

Central Govt Approval

Application to RoC (delegated authority of Central Government) for approval of name change — filed with altered MoA, AoA, and prescribed fee.

Altered MoA RoC Approval
INC-25

Fresh Certificate of Incorp.

RoC issues a fresh Certificate of Incorporation under the new name — this is the date from which the new name becomes legally effective.

Effective Date Legal Identity
CIN

CIN Identity Continuity

The Corporate Identity Number (CIN) remains unchanged — the company's legal identity, contracts, assets, liabilities, and registrations continue without break.

Same CIN No Break
Old Name Display

2-Year Old-Name Display

Under Sec 12(3)(c), for 2 years from the date of name change, the company must display the old name in brackets below the new name on letterhead, invoices, and signage.

Mandatory 2 Years

Our Company Name Change Services

01

Name Search & Trademark Scan

MCA database search, trademark registry conflict scan, similar-name analysis, and pre-application screening to maximise RUN approval probability.

02

RUN Name Reservation

Filing of RUN web service with up to 2 proposed names, justification note, and resubmission strategy if names are rejected.

03

Board & EGM Drafting

Board resolution, EGM notice, explanatory statement, special resolution, and minutes drafting in compliance with Companies Act 2013.

04

MGT-14 Filing

Filing of special resolution in Form MGT-14 within 30 days of EGM, with certified true copy and explanatory statement attachments.

05

INC-24 Application

Filing of Form INC-24 with altered MoA, AoA, RUN approval letter, MGT-14 receipt, and prescribed fee for RoC approval.

06

Altered MoA & AoA

Drafting of altered MoA & AoA with the new name, board approval, and member sign-off for INC-24 attachment.

07

Fresh CoI & PAN Update

Receipt of fresh Certificate of Incorporation (INC-25), and downstream PAN reissuance / update with the income-tax department.

08

GST / TAN / EPFO Update

Name update on GST portal, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, and other tax registrations in line with the new Certificate of Incorporation.

09

IEC, MSME, RBI & FEMA

Update of IEC (DGFT), MSME / Udyam, RBI Form FC-GPR / FC-TRS where applicable, FEMA records, and AD bank coordination.

10

Bank, Trade Licence & FSSAI

Bank A/C re-titling, signage, stationery, current account compliance, Trade Licence update, FSSAI / Shop Act / Pollution NoC name change.

11

Trademark & IP Update

Recordal of name change with the Trademark Registry, Copyright Office, Design Registry, and Patent Office for IP records.

12

Stakeholder Communication

Customer / vendor / partner communication kit, contractual addenda, website / email / social media transition, and press release support.

When You Need Company Name Change

Rebranding Strategy

Board has approved a rebrand and the new identity needs legal sanction through Sec 13 to align contracts, banking, and statutory records.

Acquisition Closing

Company has been acquired and acquirer has decided to migrate the brand to its own — name change required as part of post-deal integration.

Business Pivot

Business has changed industry / activity, and the existing name no longer reflects what the company does — combined name + objects amendment.

Sec 16 / RoC Direction

RoC has issued a notice under Sec 16 directing the company to change name due to similarity with another name / trademark — time-bound.

Founder / Family Split

Founder buyout, demerger, or family separation has occurred — surviving entity needs to drop the original founder / family-linked name.

Conversion Trigger

Pvt Ltd to Public Ltd, OPC to Pvt Ltd, or other conversion where the suffix changes — name change forms part of the conversion process.

Trademark Cease & Desist

Third party has issued cease & desist for trademark infringement — voluntary name change is the safest commercial settlement.

Investor / Listing Push

Pre-IPO / fundraise / institutional investor wants a cleaner, more brandable name aligned with the public-market positioning.

Documents Needed for Company Name Change

Company Records

  • Existing CoI
  • Existing MoA & AoA
  • PAN of company
  • Latest annual return
  • Latest balance sheet
  • Board minutes book
  • Member register

Approvals & Resolutions

  • Board resolution (name change)
  • EGM notice + explanatory stmt
  • Special resolution
  • EGM minutes
  • RUN approval letter
  • Altered MoA & AoA
  • Director DSC + DIN

Downstream Update

  • GST registration
  • TAN & EPFO / ESIC
  • IEC / MSME / RBI
  • Bank A/C details
  • FSSAI / Shop Act
  • Trademark / IP records
  • Existing contracts / MSAs

Our Name Change Engagement Process

1

Name Strategy & Search

Brand-aligned name choice, MCA + trademark search, and shortlist of 2 names for RUN.

2

RUN Reservation

RUN filing on MCA portal with justification, response to resubmission if any, and 60-day reservation lock.

3

EGM & Special Resolution

Board approval, EGM notice, explanatory statement, EGM, special resolution passing, and minutes.

4

MGT-14 + INC-24

MGT-14 filing within 30 days, INC-24 with altered MoA / AoA, RoC approval, and fresh INC-25 CoI.

5

Downstream Rollout

PAN, GST, TAN, EPFO, IEC, MSME, RBI, bank, FSSAI, IP, contracts, signage, website, and stakeholder communications.

Why Choose Us for Company Name Change

MCA & Sec 13 specialists
RUN approval optimisation
Trademark conflict scanning
EGM & resolution drafting
MGT-14 & INC-24 expertise
Downstream change-management
Trademark / IP recordal
Stakeholder communication kit

FAQs on Company Name Change

How is a company name changed under Companies Act 2013?
Name change is done under Sec 13 — board resolution, RUN name reservation, EGM with special resolution (75%+ majority), MGT-14 filing within 30 days, INC-24 application with altered MoA / AoA, and RoC issuance of a fresh Certificate of Incorporation (Form INC-25).
How long does company name change take?
Typically 4–6 weeks — covering RUN approval (1–3 days), EGM (after 21 clear days notice or shorter notice with consent), MGT-14 filing, and INC-24 approval (1–2 weeks). Downstream PAN / GST / IEC updates take an additional 2–4 weeks.
Does CIN change with name change?
No. Only the alphabetic component of the CIN that reflects the company name changes; the core CIN (numeric portion identifying the company) remains the same. Legal identity, contracts, assets, and registrations continue without break.
Can the new name be similar to a registered trademark?
No. Sec 4(2) prohibits names identical / too similar to existing names or registered trademarks. RUN typically rejects such names, and the trademark owner can also seek RoC direction under Sec 16 to force a change.
Do existing contracts continue after name change?
Yes. Contracts, leases, agreements, IP, assets, and liabilities continue uninterrupted because the legal entity (CIN) remains the same. Best practice is to issue contractual addenda intimating the name change to all counterparties.
Is old-name display mandatory after change?
Yes. Under Sec 12(3)(c), the old name must be displayed in brackets below the new name on letterhead, invoices, signage, and official communications for 2 years from the date of name change.
What downstream updates are needed after name change?
PAN reissuance, GST amendment, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, IEC, MSME / Udyam, RBI / FEMA filings, bank stationery, FSSAI / Shop Act / Trade Licence, trademark / IP records, contracts, MSAs, website, email, social handles, and customer / vendor communications.

New Name. Same Identity. Clean Compliance. Downstream-Complete.

Partner with our company-name-change specialists for Sec 13 advisory, RUN name reservation, EGM & special resolution drafting, MGT-14 / INC-24 filing, fresh Certificate of Incorporation, and full downstream PAN / GST / IEC / bank / IP rollout.

Talk to a Name Change Expert