Estonian Chamber of Commerce Seminar Richard Franklin, Eversheds LLP 23 October 2014 Setting up a UK Company
Dec 24, 2015
Estonian Chamber of Commerce Seminar
Richard Franklin, Eversheds LLP23 October 2014
Setting up a UK Company
What type of entity?
• Branch• Company Limited By Shares• Company Limited by Guarantee• Public Limited Company (PLC)• Limited Liability Partnership (Not a Company)
Process
• Very simple to set up– England and Wales different to Scotland
• Capital Requirements
• Articles of Association/Bye laws
• Companies House Forms
Legal Requirements
• Minimum of one director (PLC must have two)– must have a least one “natural person” as director
• One shareholder (Corporate or Individual)
• Company secretary (not required, save for a PLC)
• Annual return
• Accounts (audited)
Set up Costs
• Capital Requirements– Limited Liability Company - nominal amount – PLC
• GBP50,000 • €57.100
• Incorporation Fees• Legal Fees• Consider inward investment grants
Timing
• Generally - 5 days to incorporate
• Same day incorporation is possible in most cases– Increased fee – but still nominal– Subject to having all the necessary paperwork prepared
and in original form
Liabilities
• Limited to the amount of capital injected– unless agreed otherwise
• Security (more later)
• Director’s Duties 7 duties/responsibilities
Security
• Legal Mortgage
• Debenture
• Personal or Parent Company Guarantee – (careful as increases liability exposure)
Directors Duties
1. Act within Powers
2. Promote the Success of the Company
3. Exercise Independent Judgment
4. Exercise Reasonable Care, Skill and Diligence
5. Accept Benefit from Third Parties
6. Avoid Conflicts of Interest
7. Declare Interests in Proposed Transaction
Tax
• Corporation Tax – general position– profit of GBP£300,000 (and below) = 20%– profit above GBP£300,000 = 21%
• Please see specific tax advice as rates change and relief's may be available
Some Practicalities
• Banking– Consider sources of funding
• equity, loan, bank, bridge finance, venture capital
– If taking third party debt, likely restriction on distributions whilst debt outstanding
– Security
Practicalities (Cont…)
• Employment– As soon as you employ someone in the UK,
need to register with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs:
• PAYE – Pay As You Earn• National Insurance
– Employers Liability Insurance– EU Laws implemented slightly differently
• minimum protection the same• Often enhanced locally
Practicalities (Cont…)
• Employment (Cont..)– Must have written terms including all basic items
• Name, Office, Salary, Hours, Holiday, Sickness, Disciplinary/Grievance procedure, Pension.
– No more than 48 hours a week.– Minimum Wage (age based)
• >21 = £6.31 18<>21 = £5.03 <18 = £3.72
– Entitlement to Notice
– Pensions
Practicalities (Cont…)
• Real Estate– The system of land ownership in essentially split into:
• Freehold - ownership is unlimited in time• Leasehold - leasehold ownership is for a limited
period – Registered and Unregistered– No restriction on foreign ownership– If thinking of taking premises in the UK, see legal
advice.
Thank you for listening….Questions?
Richard Franklin
E-mail: [email protected] Dial: 0845 498 7545International: +44 29 2047 7545
© EVERSHEDS LLP 2014. Eversheds LLP is a limited liability partnership.Doc: 10022102