Procedure for Company Formation
Company formation procedures are usually simple and straight forward but vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In order to incorporate (register) your own company you must first satisfy the statutory due diligence compliance (KYC -know your client) requirements. These KYC compliance documents can initially be sent to us via email so that the process can be started and then the originals can be sent to us by post. Subsequently we shall fill in the necessary incorporation documents which shall then be submitted to the relevant authority e.g. the Registrar of Companies of the relevant jurisdiction. The company formation process can take anything from five to thirty days depending on the jurisdiction e.g. in Cyprus it takes around a month whereas in Belize it takes less than five.
If time is of the essence, then you can purchase a generic-all-purpose previously registered “shelf” company, so that you can use the company for your business purposes faster i.e. as soon as the KYC information is received by us and is found to comply with the statutory requirements. Our nominee Officers and Shareholders can provide trust deeds immediately upon compliance. These nominees can be changed at any time according to your needs.
Company structure information
To form a company you need to provide the company structure (incorporation) information click here to view the Questionnaire which includes, amongst others:
- Jurisdiction of incorporation.
- A suitable company name.
- The share capital.
- The proposed shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners.
- The number of shares to be issued.
- The office address.
- The company officers (Directors and/or Secretaries).
- Purpose for setting up the company so that the memorandum and articles of association be bespoke to your needs..
- The proposed business activities including projected turnover.
Know your client (KYC) requirements
In order to complete the necessary incorporation documents and the statutory due diligence compliance requirements, you should provide information about yourself, click here to view due diligence for individuals, and the intended activities of the company to be formed, click here to view the Incorporation questionnaire, including information on the company structure and its related companies, click here to view the due diligence for companies or individuals, click here to view due diligence for individuals.
In general you must provide personal data information, which includes, amongst others:
- Personal data and contact details.
- A copy of your passport.
- A recent utility bill showing your residential address.
- A business curriculum vitae.
- Wealth and source of capital details.
- Banking details and turnover.
- Recommendation letters from your banker and your auditor.
If the owner of the company is another company e.g. a holding company that would like to form a subsidiary or subsidiaries or special purpose vehicles then again you must provide company information, click here to view the due diligence for companies, which includes, amongst others:
- Copies of incorporation documents including certificates of officers, shareholders, registered office address, memorandum and articles of association.
- Certificate of good standing.
- Certificate of Incumbency.
- Details of business activities.
- Banking details.
- Details of company structure.
- Ultimate beneficial owners.
- Contact details.
Company formation package
When the company formation or purchase of a “shelf” company is complete then you shall receive all the necessary documents which will allow you to start using the company immediately. Depending on the jurisdiction, these generally include the following:
- Memorandum and articles of association.
- Certificate of incorporation.
- Company Register certificate.
- Officers Certificate (Directors and Secretaries).
- Shareholders Certificate.
- Registered address certificate.
- Shares certificates.
- Company seal.
- Trust deeds from nominee Officers or shareholders (if applicable).