REGISTER A SHIPPING COMPANY IN CYPRUS

In the article “Registration of Ships in Cyprus” Michael Chambers presented the essential information about eligibility criteria and ship registration procedures. Cypriot and European citizens may proceed with the necessary procedures and register their vessel on the Registrar of Ships. However, non-European citizens who wish to register a ship under the Cyprus flag they are obliged to incorporate a Cyprus Shipping Company. The incorporated Cyprus shipping company will acquire the ship in its name.

Michael Chambers provides some basic information concerning the formation and maintenance of a Cyprus shipping company. The experienced legal team of Michael Chambers & Co. LLC is willing to provide you a professional support during the whole procedure of the incorporation of a Cyprus shipping company. In the case, of non-European citizens the experienced lawyers of Michael Chambers & Co. LLC will assist you in every step of both the incorporation of a Cyprus shipping company and the registration of a vessel under the Cyprus flag.

The shipping company is registered as a private company with limited liability following the provisions of the Cyprus Companies Law. For the company formation, the filing of the memorandum and articles of association in Greek with the Registrar of Companies is obligatory. Michael Chambers’ team may support you with the preparation of the necessary documentation in Greek.

The bureaucratic procedure required for company formation is approximately 3-5 days since the filing of the necessary documentation. Note that the process might be accelerated for urgent cases. It could be deduced that the incorporation of a shipping company requires an adequate legal and administrative support. Michael Chambers’ team will be with you at every part of the process in order to ensure that you have all the necessary information and documents. Moreover, our legal team may assist you and provide you an appropriate guidance during the whole procedure.

Memorandum and Articles of Association

The memorandum should contain company’s objects. In the case of shipping companies, the ordinary objects are ship ownership and operation, money borrowing, mortgages, etc. On the other hand, the articles tend to adopt Table A of the Companies Law with some changes or addition whether it is required. Michael Chambers’ team may assist you to compose the Memorandum and Articles of Association and add the necessary appendices.

Name of the Company and Registered Address

A primary requirement is that the name of the company should end with the word “Limited” or “Ltd”. The Registrar of Companies should approve the name. The approval usually takes two days but in urgent cases the procedure may be accelerated.

The registered address has to be in Cyprus. In many cases it is situated at the offices of the lawyers who have incorporated the company in Cyprus. The registered address may be the address of Michael Chambers & Co. LLC premises. Note that the secretary keeps the registers and minute-books.

Share Capital

The share capital of the shipping company can be nominal or the actual amount to be deposited by the promoters for the implementation of the venture. It can be submitted in full or by calls, in cash or the shares can be allocated per value. All classes of shares and with different voting and dividend rights are acceptable. Note that all shares should be nominative and bearer shares are not acceptable.

Shareholders and Security of Beneficial Shareholders

The incorporation and maintenance of a Cyprus private company require one shareholder, regardless of nationality. Based on the provisions of the Cyprus law all shareholders of the shipping company can be foreigners residing abroad. The transfer of shares from one foreigner to another is permitted.

Cyprus law recognises trust relationship both by statute and in equity.  Michael Chambers may provide you the necessary support for the preparation and collection of the security documentation that includes the following:

• trust deed;
• the original share certificates  issued in the names of the nominee shareholders;
• instruments of transfer of shares executed in blank;
• directors’ resolutions approving the transfer of shares (in case nominee directors are appointed);
• undated letters of resignation of the nominee directors;
• irrevocable dividend mandates for payment of dividends to the beneficial owners or an account designated by them.

Meetings

Annual general meetings should be arranged every year. The first general meeting must take place within 18 months since the incorporation of the company. General meetings may take place abroad and written resolutions should be signed by all shareholders and this will be sufficient instead of a meeting.

Directors and Auditors

One or more directors regardless of nationality could be appointed. The nationality of the directors does not influence the status of the company. Consequently, it is not compulsory to have local directors, unless it is more convenient to establish local management for tax or other purposes. Michael Chambers & Co. LLC lawyers can be appointed as directors.

Shareholders decide for the appointment and removal of directors. The board meeting may take place in any part of the world.

Directors’ resolution can be adopted in one of the following two ways:

1. at a board meeting duly gathered and held
2. without a meeting given that the resolution is signed by all directors

Auditors are approved and removed during the general meeting. Otherwise, the directors have the authority to appoint auditors until the convention of a general assembly. Books can be kept in any currency.

Secretary

The directors of the company appoint and remove the secretary of the company. The nationality of the secretary is not important and does not influence the status of the company. Nonetheless, it is recommended that the secretary is a company or an individual resident in the country where directors live. In addition to this, it is advisable to be appointed in Cyprus an assistant secretary who will attend to company’s annual formalities in the country. The latter will assure that all company’s annual returns are duly signed and filed with the Registrar of Companies by the secretary. It should be underlined that a director can also be company’s secretary. This does not apply in the case there is only one director and if the company has one shareholder.

The Secretary can be one of the lawyers of Michael Chambers & Co. LLC team.

Returns

Annual returns must be filed with the Registrar of Companies. The names of shareholders must appear in the annual returns. Afterwards, the annual returns are open for public inspection.

Procedure for Incorporation of a Cyprus shipping company

In the case of the formation of a Cyprus shipping company, law firms in Cyprus require the following: particulars.

• company name;
• the amount of authorised share capital;
• if the shareholders will subscribe to the memorandum and articles of association themselves or through Cypriot nominees;
• whether shares will be held in trust by Cypriot nominees;
• names, address, nationality and occupation of beneficial owners;
• name, address, nationality and occupation of directors;
• name and address of secretary.

Michael Chambers & Co. LLC will assist you with the preparation of all the needed particulars.

Costs

The fees for the incorporation of a company contain the Registration Fees (a fixed amount of €102,52) adding 0,6% on the nominal capital. It is remarkable that in Cyprus there are no annual fees for the maintenance and operation of the company. However, there is a stamp duty of €17,09 that corresponds to the filing of the annual returns.

Trading and Taxation

Following the issue of the certificate of incorporation by the Registrar of Companies, the shipping company may begin its activities and proceed with the registration of a vessel in its name.

Taxation is one of the most considerable advantages that constitutes Cyprus an attractive ship management destination.  Briefly, until the 31^st December 2020 no income tax will be charged, imposed or collected on:

• The income acquired by the shipowners who owns a Cyprus vessel from the operation of such vessel. This provision does not include fishing companies based in Cyprus.
• The dividends paid to the shareholder or the members of a corporation, acquired from profits from the operation of a Cyprus vessel.

Proceed with the Registration of a Cyprus Shipping Company

The registration of a Cyprus shipping company does not embrace complicated bureaucratic procedures. Nevertheless, the registration of a Cyprus shipping company requires a collection and proper preparation of necessary documentation and appropriate legal support. As a result, individuals who wish to incorporate a Cyprus shipping company and register their vessel under the Cyprus flag should seek for proper legal advice and support.

Michael Chambers & Co. is able to advise and guide you on all aspects related to the registration, maintenance and operation of a Cyprus shipping company. If you wish to speak to one of our lawyers, then please contact us: info@chambers.law

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