Where a company communicates in writing or maintains a website, it is required to disclose certain information about its directors and the company itself.
Business letters and order forms
Companies must include the following information on business letters and order forms:
- The name and legal form of the company (eg that it is a private limited company)
- The place of registration of the company and its registered number
- The address of the registered office
- If a company is being wound up, the fact that it is so
- If the share capital of the company is referred to, then it must reference the paid up issued share capital
- If a company is exempt from the obligation to use the company type as part of its name, it must state that it has an exemption
Details about directors
Every company must also include the following details about its directors on all business letters on or in which the company’s name appears:
- The first (or initials) and last name of each director (or any former first or last name of any director)
- The nationality of any director who is not Irish
In special circumstances, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation can grant an exemption to companies from disclosing details about its directors.
Websites
A company’s website must include on its homepage or by way of a link on its homepage, the same information about the company that is required for business letters and order forms.
Trading under a business name
If a company trades under a business name, it must say so in its business stationery (eg ABC Limited trading as 123) and also disclose the same information as set out above.
Foreign companies with a branch in Ireland
Foreign companies with an Irish branch must disclose the following information on all business letters and order forms:
- (If the law of the country where it is incorporated requires entry on a register) the place of registration of the company and its registered number
- The name of the company if it is different to the name of the branch
- The place of registration of the branch and the number under which it is registered
In addition EEA registered companies with a branch in Ireland must disclose the following information on business letters and order forms:
- The legal form of the company
- If a company is being wound up, the fact that it is so
Name outside place of business
A company is required to paint or affix its name (and maintain such name) in letters which are easy to read in a prominent place outside its registered office or place of business.
The company name must also be shown in legible characters on any publication, official notice of the company, bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques, invoices, receipts, letters or credit, or any order purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the company.
About the author
Tim McDowell
About Tim
Tim is an associate in our corporate & commercial team. Tim works with domestic and international business, corporate and banking clients across a number of sectors on a broad spectrum of corporate matters.
Tim specialises in mergers and acquisitions of private companies. He also advises on private equity investments, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, negotiating commercial contracts and general corporate governance and advisory matters.