What is a registered company charge?
A charge is a form of security created over company property in favour of a lender or another secured party. It can arise when a company borrows, finances an asset, grants security under a facility, or becomes subject to a judgment mortgage. The public record helps third parties see that the security exists and when the filing was received.
Official guidance states that particulars of a registrable charge created by an Irish company generally must be delivered within 21 days. Priority is determined by the date and time the registrar receives a fully filed charge submission, not simply by the date written on the underlying deed. Those rules are legally significant to the parties, but a report reader usually needs a more practical first-pass interpretation.
The charge forms you may see
Different filing codes describe different events. Form C1 records particulars of a charge created by an Irish company. The two-stage process uses C1A and C1B. Form C3 concerns property acquired subject to a charge, while C10 relates to a judgment mortgage. Later forms can record satisfaction or a change in holder details.
- C1: particulars of a charge created by the company.
- C1A and C1B: the two-stage registration process.
- C3: property acquired while already subject to a charge.
- C6: full satisfaction of a charge or judgment mortgage.
- C7: partial satisfaction, meaning some secured property or debt position may remain.
- C17: change to the recorded particulars of the person entitled to the charge.
How to interpret open, satisfied and repeated charges
An open charge may still secure an active facility, but the public record does not always tell you the current amount drawn or the borrower's day-to-day payment performance. A satisfied charge indicates a recorded release or satisfaction event; check whether it is full or partial and whether another charge replaced it.
Several charges can reflect ordinary financing, asset purchases, refinancing or a complex group treasury structure. A sudden cluster of new security, unfamiliar lenders or charges over broad assets may justify deeper questions, but none proves insolvency by itself. Match the pattern to the company's size, industry and financial statements.
Commercial questions a charge review should trigger
For procurement and credit teams, the useful question is not simply whether a charge exists. Ask whether core operating assets appear secured, whether the counterpart has authority to dispose of an asset, whether a lender consent may be relevant, and whether recent refinancing changes the risk profile.
For high-value transactions, the public filing is only the beginning. Obtain current confirmation, contractual warranties and legal advice appropriate to the asset and transaction. A historic company report cannot determine the present enforceability or exact balance of a secured facility.