A Private Company Limited by Shares (LTD) is a business entity with ownership vested in private parties, either individuals or organizations.
With an Unlimited Company (“UC”) the shareholders are not protected by limited liability. It may seem unusual that anyone would want to trade in a company that has unlimited liability however certain professions cannot operate through a limited liability company.
If there is a formal liquidation, with the company lacking resources to pay off its debts, creditors have access to the personal assets of the unlimited company’s shareholders or members. In this event, all the shareholders bear joint, several and unlimited liability for the company’s liabilities. That means that regardless of your level of shareholding, if other shareholders are unable to pay you could have to contribute more and more. You could lose everything.
Despite being incorporated at Companies House, the unlimited company therefore shares important characteristics with a sole trader and general partnership. Those behind the business effectively accept complete liability for the company’s debts. While it’s still subject to most of the requirements of incorporated companies, because of the nature of the members’ liability, an unlimited company isn’t usually required to submit accounts to Companies House.
Private unlimited companies are not common in the UK, and where they are used, it’s usually because the owners wish to keep information that could be valuable to competitors, such as turnover and the amounts paid in dividends, out of the public eye.
Unlimited companies usually don’t have to file accounts with Companies House, although the directors still need to prepare annual financial statements. However, if the unlimited company is the parent company of a limited company, is a subsidiary of a limited company, or involved in certain activities such as insurance or banking, it will have to file accounts at Companies House.
It's also much easier to return capital to shareholders of an unlimited company. For this reason, they may be very useful within a group structure where flexibility to move capital within the group is desired. An unlimited company may also be useful where a company is required for a specific transaction and unlimited liability is not regarded as a problem, or for a business where the risk of insolvency is very low or non-existent.
We can help you incorporate as an Unlimited Company, providing all the relevant documentation including the Articles of Association, custom-drafted by leading counsel. We can also complete necessary forms for you and liaise with Companies House on your behalf.
An unlimited company may be formed with a single director and member, who may be the same individual.
An unlimited company is a type of business entity that has no limit on the liability of its owners or shareholders. This means that the owners or shareholders of the company are personally liable for all the debts and obligations of the company, even if those debts exceed the value of the company’s assets.
Most often these are used as investment companies where privacy is required and where the risk of claims against the owners is negligible.
We offer a range of services to make it easy for you to get started, from facilitating registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to obtaining your Tax Identification Number (TIN). Our comprehensive business support will ensure you have everything you need to succeed.
Start your company today with SplashDict!
Register your Private Unlimited Company in Nigeria
Here's how SplashDict's team of CAC-accredited consultants can help:
Our Process
Make Payment Online
Add the package to the cart on the product page, then proceed to checkout and complete the secured online payment.
Tell us about your business
We'll process Application
Receive your documents
Once your registration documents have been approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), you will receive your completed business entity package by e-mail/mail.
Why choose SplashDict?
Fast
Efficiency
Reliable
Transparent pricing
Packages
Find the best package to start your Company:
Standard
₦50,000
- Nigerian Private Company Limited by Shares Incorporation
- CAC Filling fees included.
- Digital delivery of Certificate of Incorporation
- Digital delivery of approved Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Digital delivery of Status Report
- Tax Identification Number (TIN) inclusive
- Digital Storage of Documents
- Registered in 2-10 working days
- Lifetime Support and Assistance
Premium
₦80,000
- All included in the Standard Plan
- 1-year Company Secretarial Support
- Printed Company Documents (Certificate of Incorporation, Status Report, MEMART)
- Digital and Printed Share Certificate(s)
- First Board Meeting Minutes
- Digital and Printed Company Registers with First Entries
- VAT Registration
- PAYE Registration
- Company Seal
- Nigerian Business Bank Accounts Setup (Optional)
- Maintenance of Statutory Books
- Free .com or .com.ng Domain Name
Requirements for Registering a Private Limited Company in Nigeria
To complete the incorporation of a Private Company Limited by Shares in Nigeria, you'll have to provide the following details upon Submission;
- At least two (2) proposed names of the company: A proposed company name and an alternative name in case the proposed name isn’t available.
- The objectives and nature of the business.
- Memorandum and article of association (MEMART): This document shows the company structure and regulations.
- Company Share Capital: The minimum is One hundred thousand Naira (100,000).
- Company Share Subscribers: These are people who have a share or shares in the company.
- Company directors and secretary particulars: this is the personal data of the proposed company Directors and secretary.
- Proposed company office address.
Features of a Private Unlimited Company
How Does a Company Limited by Shares Work?
Features of a Private Unlimited Company
Here are some of the salient features of Private Unlimited Company Incorporation in Nigeria;
1
Private company
A private Unlimited company is one incorporated with the CAC as one. It is a company limited by shares, which its shares not offered to the general public.
2
Membership / Shareholder
To incorporate an Unlimited company in Nigeria, a minimum number of a single member is required and a maximum of 50 members.
3
Director in UC
A private Unlimited company must be composed of a minimum of 1 director. It can have a maximum of 15 directors.
4
Liability
The liability of the shareholders is unlimited.
5
Succession
A private unlimited company enjoys perpetual succession. The company exists in the eyes of the law in the event of death and insolvency except if there is a decision to wind up the company.
6
Restriction
7
Share Capital
The minimum capital share requirement for the incorporation of ULC is 100,000 naira (One hundred thousand naira only).
8
Suffix
Upon incorporation, the company name must end with the suffix “Unlimited Company”, or “UC”.
9
Exemptions Filling Statements
The company may be exempt from filing financial statements if one of the shareholders has unlimited liability (individual or another unlimited company).
10
MEMART
The activities and capacity are limited to the Objects Clause in the Memorandum. The company has a two-document constitution made up of a Memorandum of Association (objects and powers) and the Articles of Association (internal rules).
Private Unlimited Company Incorporation Packages
Choose the option that is right for your need and budget. No additional fees or hidden charges. Upon completing the order, you’ll be redirected to submit your information to process your registration.
One-Person Company
Incorporation of a Private Unlimited Company with a Single Shareholder / Member.
₦50,000
Private Unlimited Company (UC)
Incorporation of a Private Unlimited Company, up to 10 Shareholders / Members.
₦60,000
UC Incorporation Pro
Incorporation of a Private Unlimited Company, up to 50 Members + 1 Year Virtual Secretarial support.
₦150,000
Benefits of Registering a Private Unlimited Company
Unlimited companies share many of the advantages of limited companies - For example, separate legal personality. An unlimited company also has some specific advantages:
Requirements for incorporating a Private Unlimited Company in Nigeria
You'll have to provide the following details upon Submission;
- Proposed Name of the Company (2 Names).
- The objectives and nature of business of the company.
- Address of the company.
- The share capital and shareholding formula among shareholders.
- Memorandum of Association and Article of Association (MEMART) - We'll provide both MOA & AOA for free.
- Details of Shareholder and Director(s). Details such as; names, occupations, residential addresses, email addresses, mobile phone numbers, and means of identification (National Identification Card, Data Page of International Passport, Driver’s Licence, or Voter’s Card).
Where the above requirements have been complied with, the CAC shall within 14 days of the submission of the application register the Private Limited Company and issue a digital certificate of incorporation stating the name, date, and registration number of the LTD.
Why choose SplashDict?
Fast
Efficiency
Reliable
Transparent pricing
Our Process
Make Payment Online
Tell us about your business
We'll process Application
Receive your documents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can find some of our most frequently asked questions below;
This type of company has many similar features to a private limited company. It is registered at CAC, it has members (usually shareholders), it has directors and Articles of Association, etc.
However, with an unlimited company its shareholders (or members) have unlimited liability. This means that each member is jointly and severally liable for the debts of the company in the event of its winding up.
So if the company needs more money to settle its debts or liabilities on winding up it can call on the shareholders to contribute whatever amount is necessary to make up any shortfall.
The incorporation of an unlimited company may be recommended in the following situations:
1. Where there is an enlarged partnership that is getting beyond the legal maximum of the members of a partnership.
2. Where persons wish to form a company in a manner rendering them liable, without limitation for the debts of the company.
3. The law may make it mandatory for certain kinds of companies to be incorporated as unlimited companies in order to ensure probity in the management of public funds. For instance, it was once required that insurance brokerage companies be registered as unlimited companies under the old Insurance Act, TRUSTEE COMPANIES, PENSION FUND ADMINISTRATORS, STOCK BROKERS.
4. It is suitable where contributed funds are to be managed by the company expected to exhibit due honesty.
5. It is suitable for professional service companies where integrity coupled with skill and competencies are the core values.
6. An unlimited company is that it is exempt from filing annual accounts with CAC (unless the company has been either a subsidiary undertaking or a parent company of an undertaking which is limited during the relevant accounting period).
Any individual of any nationality may register a limited company subject to a few conditions:
- They are not an undischarged bankrupt
- They have not been restrained by court order
- They are not subject to Nigeria government restrictions
To complete the Registration of Your Company in Nigeria, you'll have to provide the following details upon Submission;
- Proposed Name of the Company (2 Names).
- The objectives and nature of business of the company.
- Address of the company.
- The share capital and shareholding formula among shareholders.
- Details of Shareholder and Director(s). Details such as; names, occupation, residential address, email address, mobile phone number and means of identification (National Identification Card, Data Page of International Passport,
- Driver’s Licence or Voter’s Card).
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