Corporations Act 2001
CHAPTER 2B - BASIC FEATURES OF A COMPANY
Division 2 - Changing a company's name
SECTION 158 ASIC ' S POWER TO DIRECT COMPANY TO CHANGE ITS NAME
[ CCH Note: S 158 heading will be amended by No 69 of 2020, s 3, Sch 1[468], by substituting " POWER " for " ASIC ' S POWER " , (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]
158(1)
ASIC may direct a company in writing to change its name within 2 months if:
(a) the name should not have been registered; or
(b) the company has breached a condition under subsection 147(3) on the availability of the name; or
(c) a consent given under subsection 147(4) to use or assume the name has been withdrawn; or
(d) the company has breached a condition on a consent given under subsection 147(4) ; or
(e) the company ceases to be permitted to use or assume the name (as referred to in paragraph 147(4)(b) ).
[ CCH Note: S 158(1) will be amended by No 69 of 2020, s 3, Sch 1[469], by substituting " The Registrar may direct a company " for " ASIC may direct a company in writing " , (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]
158(2)
The company must comply with the direction within 2 months after being given it by doing everything necessary to change its name under section
157
.
158(2A)
An offence based on subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability , see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code .
158(3)
If the company does not comply with subsection
(2)
, ASIC may change the company
'
s name to its ACN and any other words that section
148
requires, by altering the details of the company
'
s registration to reflect the change.
[ CCH Note: S 158(3) will be amended by No 69 of 2020, s 3, Sch 1[470], by substituting " the Registrar " for " ASIC " , (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]
158(4)
A change of name under subsection
(3)
takes effect when ASIC alters the details of the company
'
s registration.
[ CCH Note: S 158(4) will be amended by No 69 of 2020, s 3, Sch 1[470], by substituting " the Registrar " for " ASIC " , (effective 1 July 2026 or a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation).]
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