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CIC Formation

1. CIC Formation

The main purpose of a community interest company is to carry out an activity solely for the benefit of a particular community (and not, apart from in limited circumstances, for the benefit of the investors or shareholders of the CIC).

CICs can either be limited by shares or by guarantee or may even be a public limited company. However, a CIC may not be a charity (a charity can convert into a CIC but it will lose its charitable status on doing so).

2. What does our CIC Company Formation package include?

  1. A new CIC limited company formed with your choice of name.
  2. Presentation folder.
  3. An official hard copy Certificate of Incorporation.
  4. Share certificates (if appropriate).
  5. A hard Copy Memorandum and Articles of Association (with online access to the original so you can print as many copies as you want).
  6. Board meeting minutes.
  7. Guidance materials on the regulatory requirements for new businesses.
  8. Unlimited resubmissions of your company’s details to Companies House if your first application is rejected for any reason.
  9. Free telephone support especially in drafting the community interest statement.

FORM A COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY


Total Price: £750 + VAT
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1. How does a CIC differ from any other company?

As a unique type of structure we are often asked how a CIC differs from ordinary private or public limited companies. The main differences are as follows:

  1. The purpose of the CIC is always to benefit a particular community. All CICs must on formation satisfy a community interest test and continue to do so throughout the lifetime of the company.
  2. CICs are subject to what is known as an “Asset Lock” which means that the CIC cannot transfer any of its assets for less than market value to anybody other than another CIC, a charity or for the benefit of the specified community.
  3. The name of a new CIC must end with the words “community interest company”, “CIC”, “community interest public limited company” or “community interest plc” depending on the type of CIC formed.
  4. CICs can only pay dividends to:
    • certain asset-locked bodies; or
    • in limited circumstances, with the appropriate articles of association, to other persons including private investors.
  5. Every year a CIC must file a Community Interest Company Report (in addition to its Annual Return and Annual Accounts) which must contain specified information, including:
    • a description of the company’s activities that have benefitted the specified community;
    • full details of payments made to the directors including any benefits;
    • the value of any assets that have been disposed of for less than market value; and
    • any dividends that have been paid and compliance with the dividend capping rules.

    The report must be filed at the same time as the annual accounts and is also subject to a filing fee of £15.

  6. CICs are controlled not only by the Registrar of Companies but also by the CIC Regulator who has extensive powers to enforce laws which apply solely to CICs.
  7. A CIC cannot be converted into an ordinary private limited company.