Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Law homepage
386A: Director of failed company must not be director, etc, of phoenix company with same or substantially similar name
or “Failed company directors can't lead similarly named businesses for 5 years”

You could also call this:

“Explaining terms used for companies that restart after failing”

In sections 386A to 386F, you’ll find some important words defined. These words are used when talking about phoenix companies.

A “director of a failed company” is someone who was a director of a company that failed within the last 12 months before it went into liquidation.

A “failed company” is a company that was put into liquidation when it couldn’t pay its debts.

A “phoenix company” is a new company that uses the same name or a very similar name as a failed company. This can happen before the failed company goes into liquidation or within 5 years after.

A “pre-liquidation name” is any name the failed company used in the 12 months before it went into liquidation. This includes trading names.

A “similar name” is a name that’s so close to the failed company’s name that people might think they’re connected.

For these sections, a company is known by a name if it’s the company’s official registered name or if the company does business using that name.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.


Next up: 386C: Liability for debts of phoenix company

or “Personal responsibility for debts when running a phoenix company”

Part 21 Offences and penalties

386BDefinitions for purpose of phoenix company provisions

  1. In sections 386A to 386F,—

    director of a failed company means a person who was a director of a failed company at any time in the period of 12 months before the commencement of its liquidation, and director of the failed company has a corresponding meaning

      failed company means a company that was placed in liquidation at a time when it was unable to pay its due debts

        phoenix company means, in relation to a failed company, a company that, at any time before, or within 5 years after, the commencement of the liquidation of the failed company, is known by a name that is also—

        1. a pre-liquidation name of the failed company; or
          1. a similar name

            pre-liquidation name means any name (including any trading name) of a failed company in the 12 months before the commencement of that company's liquidation

              similar name means a name that is so similar to a pre-liquidation name of a failed company as to suggest an association with that company.

              1. For the purposes of sections 386A to 386F, a company is known by a name if that name is its registered name or if it carries on business, or carries on a part of its business, under that name.

              Compare
              • Insolvency Act 1986 s 216(6) (UK)
              Notes
              • Section 386B: inserted, on , by section 35 of the Companies Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 56).