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

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England is not the UK for a company

Problem

Documents prepared in another country but needing signing in England by a company often state that the country of incorporation is the UK.

Technically this is incorrect. In fact the country of incorporation is the place where the registered office of the company (e.g. in England and Wales or Scotland or Northern Ireland, etc).

What is the solution?