Previously, French companies had found it difficult to enter into joint-venture relationships with foreign companies because of the rigidity of French corporate law but SAS companies are increasingly finding favour with foreign investors who wish to set up subsidiaries in France. In an SAS, a president and one shareholder is required. The only person authorized to act on behalf of an SAS company is its President.
The President is considered an employee of the company and so pays normal employee social security contributions except for unemployment insurance.
Opening a business bank account for an SAS requires an initial share capital deposit of around 4, euros as there is no minimum required anymore. An SA is normally used by businesses that want to go public on the stock exchange or have lots of shareholders as there is no maximum amount of shareholders with this type of business structure. An SA is designed to help fundraising by encouraging new investors to contribute to the share capital. So any businesses with strong potential for expansion, investment and profit are likely to go for this structure.
Related article: How does the payroll system work in France? But be warned, the PDG can be fired at any time by the board! Minimum Authorised. EUR 12, Bearer shares allowed. No par value shares allowed. Minimum number.
Local required. Publicly accessible records. Location of meetings. Not mandatory. Corporate management allowed. Corporate shareholder allowed. Requirements to prepare. Audit requirements. SARLs which meet certain audit criteria. Requirements to file accounts. Publicly accessible accounts. It can be prepared in English, German, or French. It must contain the following information:. Luxembourg has a territorial tax system whereby companies which are foreign-owned are only taxed on income which is sourced in Luxembourg.
This is an attractive tax benefit of Luxembourg SARLs and make them ideal for use as offshore companies. Although SARLs are subject to auditing and are required to submit financial reports, there is still a good degree of privacy at the outset. Economic recovery Covid practical information MonacoSafe Certification. There is no maximum number of shareholders see article of the code de commerce Shareholders may be natural or legal persons.
Mandatory inclusions The Memorandum and Articles of Association must include: The company's legal form The number of shareholders The duration: the duration of a firm cannot exceed 99 years. The date of effect of the company must be stated: the date of signature of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, date of registration or fulfilment of the condition precedent of obtaining official authorization to do business.
Share capital Share capital, amounting to a minium of EUR 15,, is divided into equal shares. Cash contributions When the company is formed, cash contributions must be fully paid up, amounting to the minimum required share capital. Contributions in kind Contributions in kind must be fully paid up upon incorporation. Allocation of shares In return for their contribution to the share capital of the SARL, shareholders receive a number of shares. The registered office In principle, the registered office of an SARL is established on commercial premises commercial lease, short-term lease or temporary tenancy agreement.
However, it is possible to domicile the firm at the Managing Director's personal address in Monaco for a duration of one year, that may be renewed once, as from publication in the Journal de Monaco of the transcript of the Memorandum of Association if: No legislative, regulatory or contractual provision is opposed thereto The firm's activities do not involve reception of clients or the storage or display of goods The firm employs no staff It is also possible, under certain conditions, to domicile the firm: Either with a domiciliation company for a period limited to one year may be renewed once Or on premises occupied by another firm See the factsheet: " Domiciling a business activity or establishing a company's registered office " The Managing Director An SARL must be managed by one or more natural persons.
A company cannot therefore be the Managing Director of an SARL see article of the code de commerce Management may be performed by a shareholder or by a third party. Appointment and removal of the Managing Director The first Managing Director s are appointed by the shareholders in the Articles of Association and may be removed under the conditions laid down therein.
Powers of the Managing Director With regard to the shareholders The Managing Director may carry out any and all acts that are required or appropriate in fulfilling the company objects, subject to powers bestowed by law or the Articles of Association upon the shareholders. The Managing Director's powers can be limited by: The Articles of Association: some clauses in the Articles of Association may render certain acts subject to prior authorization by the body of shareholders The powers bestowed upon shareholders by the law: the company's legal representative cannot take any action that is solely incumbant upon the shareholders, such as amendments to the Articles of Association or transfers of goodwill leading to the liquidation of the firm A Managing Director cannot, therefore, take a unilateral decision to amend the company objects.
With regard to third parties In respect of third parties, the Managing Director is granted the most extensive powers to act in all circumstances on the company's behalf, subject to the powers attributed specifically to shareholders by the law.
Resolutions are passed in accordance with the Articles of Association See Article of the code de commerce No rule establishes a quorum for resolutions. Extraordinary General Meetings EGMs EGMs have the purpose of ruling on any amendments to the Articles of Association such as changes in legal form, changes in the company name, capital increases, etc. Resolutions are passed in accordance with the Articles of Association.
Informing shareholders If there is a meeting, the Managing Director must invite the shareholders and send them all documents enabling them to vote in full knowledge of the facts.
For Ordinary General Meetings, the Managing Director must make available to the shareholders or their proxies, at the registered office of the company: The annual accounts The management report Shareholders or their proxies may take copies thereof.
In respect of third parties In order to render certain corporate deeds enforceable against third parties, the Managing Director must perform publication formalities which vary according to the nature of the resolution. Liability of the Managing Director The Managing Director is responsible to the company and to third parties for negligence that they might commit in carrying out their duties.
Individual liability in the event of collective proceedings In the event of collective proceedings, the Managing Director may be ordered to pay all or part of the SARL's debts if they have committed mismanagement, on the basis of article of the Code de Commerce.
Criminal liability of the Managing Director The Managing Director may incur their liability, pursuant to article of the Code de Commerce in the following cases: If they have not instigated the appointment of one or more auditor s or if they have refused to communicate to the auditors the documents required in order for them to fulfil their duties. The shareholders of an SARL The shareholders have a right of oversight concerning the management of the firm insofar as they participate actively in company life by voting in resolutions pertaining to the operation of the company.
Powers to manage the firm Participating in meetings All shareholders of an SARL are entitled to participate in Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings and no shareholders may be excluded therefrom.
Representation Any shareholder may be represented at a meeting by: Their spouse, except where the company is formed only of the two spouses A shareholder, except where the company has only two shareholders A third party that has been granted a special power of attorney Representation presupposes the existence of a mandate, which cannot be enduring.
Voting on resolutions The right to participate in a meeting implies a right to vote at said meeting. A legal person may be appointed to manage an SARL. With the exception of actions requiring a decision on the part of the shareholders, as provided for by law or in the articles of association, the manager s may undertake any action they deem necessary or useful for achieving the corporate purpose.
There are no restrictions on the nationality of an SARL's managers; they may be Luxembourg nationals, EU nationals, or nationals of any third country. They may only be removed from office for legitimate reasons, such as: obvious incapacity, unfair competition to the detriment of the company or misappropriation of funds, unless otherwise specified in the articles of association. The shareholders are entitled to information on the inventory, balance sheets and reports produced by the supervisory board, if such a board exists.
In SARLs with more than 60 shareholders a general meeting of shareholders must be held at least once a year.
The time of year at which the meeting is held is specified in the company's articles of association. Unless the articles of association have been amended to state otherwise, it is not mandatory to hold a general meeting in SARLs with fewer than 60 partners.
In this case, the partners are invited to send in their votes in writing, after having received the text of the resolutions or decisions to be taken. Each shareholder has a number of votes equal to the number of shares they hold. In SARLs with a single shareholder, the latter alone wields the powers vested in the general meeting of shareholders. The founders of the company and, in the event of an increase in capital, the managers, are jointly liable in respect of third parties for:. However, the deed of incorporation of the SARL may restrict the label of "founder" to subscribers who, together, hold at least one third of the share capital.
In that case, all other shareholders mentioned in the deed of incorporation will be deemed simple subscribers. The shareholders are liable to the extent of the amount of their contribution to the share capital. The company is bound by the actions undertaken by the manager s , even when they surpass the corporate purpose, unless it can be proven that the third party involved knew, or could not have been unaware of, the fact that the action surpassed the corporate purpose.
Managers are accountable to the company for carrying out the duties entrusted to them, and for any misdeeds committed in the performance of such duties. SARLs with more than 60 shareholders are subject to compulsory oversight by one or more internal auditors, whose names are mentioned in the articles of association.
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