Bermuda Exempted

$8,500.00

International Bermuda Exempt Company (BEC) with minimum issued capital of only $1, no corporate tax, without statutory requirements of submitting annual tax returns or audited financial statements.

Recurring maintenance fees as from 2nd year – $7900

Please note: If applying for a corporate bank account you will need to order a full set of apostilled company documents when the account is opened outside of Bermuda.

  • NOMINEE SERVICES

    Nominee Shareholder
    • 300 $

    Provision of corporate Nominee Shareholder (per annum)

    CORPORATE-CERTIFICATES

    Certificate of Good Standing (Apostilled)
    • 575 $

    Provision of Certificate of Good Standing under Apostille

    Certificate of Good Standing (electronic copy)
    • 270 $

    Provision of Certificate of Compliance (Certificate of Good Standing) issued by the Registrar of Companies

    Set of Corporate Documents (Apostilled)
    • 650 $

    Copies of corporate documents in one Apostilled bundle.
    Please note: If applying for a corporate bank account you will need to order a full set of apostilled company documents when the account is opened outside of Marshall Islands.

    OTHER-SERVICES

    Extra Rubber Stamp
    • 40 $

    Provision of company extra rubber stamp

    Metal Embossing Seal
    • 120 $

    Provision of embossed metal seal

LEGAL FORM

The principal statute governing the formation and operation of Bermuda companies is The Companies Act 1981 (“the Act”) as from time to time amended. There are 4 types of Company that can be incorporated in Bermuda, each having different constitutional characteristics: A Company Limited by Shares -This is the most common type of company incorporated under Bermuda law, A Company Incorporated with Unlimited Liability, A Company Limited by Guarantee, Limited Duration Companies.
The most popular form of the company in Bermuda used by foreign investors is Bermuda exempted company. An exempted company is one which is exempted from provisions of Bermuda law applying to local companies which, among other things, restricts the portion of share capital which may be owned by non-Bermudians. Thus, exempted companies are predominantly owned by non-Bermudians and, although incorporated in Bermuda, may carry on business from within Bermuda normally only in connection with transactions and activities external to Bermuda. Under Section 129A of the Companies Act 1981 applications may be made to the Minister of Finance for permission to carry out business in Bermuda.

COMPANY NAME

The proposed name of a company can be reserved with the Registrar of Companies, up to three months prior to incorporation. No company may be registered with a name which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is undesirable or which: is identical to or resembles the name by which another company is already registered or incorporated in Bermuda; contains the words “Chamber of Commerce” or suggests the patronage of Her majesty or any member of the Royal Family; contains the word “municipal” or “chartered”; contains the word “co-operative”; contains the words “building society”; contains the word “bank” (section 57 of The Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999); does not contain the word “Limited” in the case of a company limited by shares; or ends with the word “Limited” where the company is formed with unlimited liability. If at any time after a company has been registered, it appears to the Registrar that a company’s name is undesirable the Registrar may notify and direct the company to change its name.

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

A company is incorporated in Bermuda by application made to the Registrar of Companies. Memorandum of Association must be lodged with the Registrar. Memorandum specifies the activities in which the company may engage, share capital of the company, liability of shareholders,the rules governing the internal management of the company.

FORMATION PROCEDURE

The formation procedure of a Bermuda Company is complex. Initially an advertisement has to be placed in a local newspaper announcing the intention to incorporate. The name of the proposed company, together with the objects clauses, has to be disclosed in the advertisement, confirming also whether the company requires being exempt or domestic. An application for consent to incorporate is made to the Bermuda Monetary Authority; this application should contain the following information:

  • The name of the company;
  • The proposed registered office address;
  • The names and addresses and nationalities of the proposed directors;
  • The names and addresses and nationalities of the proposed shareholders and their interest in the proposed company;
  • The Memorandum of Association detailing the share capital and classes of shares;
  • Proposed bank account details;
  • Bank character references relating to the proposed beneficial owners;
  • The appropriate registry fees.

SHAREHOLDERS

A Bermuda exempted company must have at least one member (or shareholder), any nationality, individual or legal entity. Upon the issue of shares the names and addresses of the members must be entered on the share register. The share certificates may be denominated in any currency.

SHARE CAPITAL

The minimum share capital of an exempted company is US$12,000; of an insurance company is US$120,000; or of a mutual fund is US$1 (or an equivalent amount in another currency). The authorized share capital may subsequently be increased by resolution of the company in general meeting. Shares of no par value and bearer shares are not permitted.

DIRECTORS

A company must have at least one individual director and need not be a resident of Bermuda. Corporate Directors are not permitted.
A list of directors must be maintained at the registered office. The names of directors and officers are not made public; however, the Bahamas Registry may require the information in some circumstances, such as if an official certificate is required. Changes in directors or officers need not be registered or reported.

REGISTERED OFFICE AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS

A Bermuda exempted company must have a registered office in Bermuda. A Bermuda exempted company must appoint a President and a Vice President or a Chairman or Deputy Chairman. The foregoing positions must be filled by an individual who is a director of the company. The Directors must appoint a Secretary, which may be a company, provided that if the Secretary is a director it must be an individual. A Bermuda exempted company must have either: a) minimum of two directors ordinarily resident in Bermuda; or
b) secretary and director ordinarily resident in Bermuda; or
c) secretary ordinarily resident in Bermuda and a resident representative; or
d) resident representative where the company is listed on a Stock Exchange appointed by the Minister of Finance.
Where a secretary is also either a director or resident representative in paragraphs a) and c) above the provisions of the Companies Act 1981 will not be satisfied. A Bermuda exempted company must keep at its registered office its corporate records and the register of officers and directors.

MEETINGS

Directors meetings may be held in or outside Bermuda. Notice of a meeting of the directors must be given to all directors. Shareholder meetings (AGM) must be held every calendar year and need not be held in Bermuda.

INCORPORATION TIME

Usually it is 14 working days, but we need extra 7 working days for legalization of the documents and delivery by courier.

RECURRING MAINTENANCE FEES AS FROM 2ND YEAR

  • Provision of registered office and registered address
  • Provision of resident representative
  • Provision of corporate administration and/or secretarial services
  • Payment of annual government fee payable in January of each year

TAXATION

In Bermuda there is no income or corporation tax, no capital gains tax, no VAT or sales tax, and no withholding tax. Companies and partnerships pay annual fees to the Government depending on their nature and capitalization. An exempt company may apply to the Minister of Finance for a certificate exempting it from future profits taxation, should there be any, for a period ending not later than the 28th March, 2016.

AUDIT AND FINANCIAL RETURNS

Although there is no statutory requirement to file accounts, there should be sufficient accounting records to enable the directors and shareholders to ascertain the financial position of the company. The accounting records should be kept at the registered office address. If they are kept outside Bermuda, copies of all accounting records should be available for inspection by the directors each quarter. All Bermuda companies should appoint an auditor, except where the directors and shareholders have unanimously agreed not to appoint one.

OUR SERVICES FOR THE COMPANY FORMATION IN BERMUDA INCLUDE:

  • Name check and approval
  • Application fee for Consent to incorporate
  • Government fee (drafting/submitting Memorandum or Articles of Association)
  • Legal fees, compliance fees
  • A standard set of original corporate documents under Apostille
  • Payment of the Government fee
  • Provision of registered agent and registered address for one year
  • Provision of company secretary for one year
  • Rubber stamp

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE COMPANY FORMATION

Please provide the following documents for all Directors, Shareholders, Beneficial Owners, Authorized Signatories:

  • Notarized copy of valid passport.
  • Original or Certified copy of utility bill / bank statement (as verification of residential address, dated within 3 months).
  • Original or certified copy of Banker’s reference letter (dated within 3 months).
  • In cases where shareholders and/or directors are corporate bodies, full apostilled set of corporate documents and Certificate of Good Standing (for companies registered more than 1 year).

IMPORTANT NOTE: LICENSABLE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

If you conduct any activity without required license or authorization granted by a relevant authority in any jurisdiction, Agent Legal will not be able to assist you with the company formation or bank account opening related to such unlicensed activity.

Licensable activities include, but not limited to: provision of financial services involving trading/brokerage in foreign exchange, financial and commodity-based derivative instruments and other securities; offering investment advice to public; insurance and banking business; operation and administration of collective investment schemes and mutual funds; payment processing services; money exchange, money transmission or money brokering; asset management; safe custody services; gaming, gambling and lotteries.

Please contact us if you need our assistance in licensing of your financial, Forex brokerage or gambling company.

SHIPPING COST

Shipping of corporate documents or banking kits to your destination requires an extra charge and will be automatically added to the invoice during checkout. Shipping costs for international courier services are set automatically and can vary from USD 75 to USD 95. The fees depend on the jurisdiction of your ordered company, the country where the bank is based as well as your destination country.