This guidance explains what community interest companies (CICs) are and the steps that must be taken to form a CIC. It includes information on constitutional documents, restrictions on the transfer of assets (the asset lock) and statutory obligations.
What is a CIC
Things to Consider
Asset Locked Body
Shares & Dividend Cap
Accounts & CIC34 Report
Regulators Role
Published 2 August 2013 Last updated 9 February 2024 +show all updates
Converted PDF guidance to HTML
Update list in annex c
All guidance chapters were updated to show the new parent department name and logo, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Legislation links in Chapter 1 updated.
Updated office address in all publications
Chapter 7 of guidance notes updated - amended heading 7.1.
Foreword in chapter 1 of the guidance updated.
Chapter 11 of guidance updated
Updated Annex A of the guidance notes
Chapter 6, 7 and Annex A of the CIC guidance notes have been updated to reflect the changes to the dividend and performance related interest caps that will take effect from 01 October 2014
Section about public benefit entities added to chapter 8: statutory obligations