How to describe a company

Companies often need to sign documents provided from abroad. The way companies are described in those documents varies, but often they do not clearly or correctly describe the company involved. For example:

stating that a company is incorporated in the UK:
- In the UK companies are incorporated in the part of the UK where they have their registered office;
- For example: a company having its registered office in London, will be registered in England and Wales
not stating the registered number of the company:
- In the UK it is possible to change the name of a company but not its registered number;
- In some other countries it is not possible to change either;
not stating the registered office:
- by convention for UK companies the registered office is stated;
- it is possible to use any other address, but by convention the principal business address is stated;
not stating the full name of the company:
- the full (proper) name of the company is that found on its certificate of incorporation (or on the Companies House website);
- the registered name must appear in all documents that a company produces[^1]

Why does this matter

There is normally no problem where there is no doubt to which company the document refers to. For example, if there is only one MegaCorp Limited in the UK, and missing any of the details (or including the full details) described above is unlikely to cause a problem if there is a dispute. This is subject to two points, for companies incorporated in the UK:

All documentation issued by a company must display its full, registered, name[^1].
For some documentation (such as business letters, order forms, and websites) in addition to the full, registered name:
1. the part of the UK in which it is registered;
2. its registered name; and
3. its registered office;
  also need to be stated[^2], both in printed and electronic documentation[^3].
  However,
some countries have a high standard of formality as to the contents and accuracy of documents. Not stating all the details or the correct details may cause a problem;
some companies are part of a group of companies. Companies in the group may have similar names, such as MegaCorp Holdings 1 Limited, MegaCorp Holdings 2 Limited, Mega Corp Holdings UK 1 Limited, MegaCorp Holdings UK 2 Limited. If the companies enter into a large number of agreements etc then if the registered number is not stated, a typo or rigorous administration may not may it make it clear which particular company has entered into the agreement. Also where there are a group of companies, if there is a reorganisation or a takeover, then without use of the registration number, it is harder and more time consuming to work out which existing agreements and other documents relate to any new names.