R v Registrar of Companies, ex parte Attorney General

[1991] BCLC 476

Ratio Decidendi

A company registered for an unlawful purpose (in this case, prostitution) may be struck off the register. The Registrar has a duty to refuse or cancel registration where the company's objects are wholly unlawful.

Ffeithiau

A company called 'Lindi St Claire (Personal Services) Ltd' was registered with the object of providing prostitution services. The Attorney General applied for judicial review.

Crynodeb o'r dyfarniad

The court held the registration should be cancelled as the company's sole object was to carry on a trade that was unlawful. The Registrar had a duty not to register companies with wholly illegal objects.

Dyfyniadau allweddol

"A company cannot be validly formed for an illegal purpose."
— Ackner LJ

Triniaeth ddilynol

Good law

Authority on the limits of company registration where objects are unlawful.