A ready-made Lithuanian UAB is an existing legal entity already registered in the Register of Legal Entities. Purchasing it involves acquiring its shares rather than incorporating a new company. Before completing the purchase, the buyer should verify the company’s registration status, shareholder structure, accounting records, tax position, contractual obligations and any previous business activities. A company with no previous commercial activity may still have financial, tax or administrative obligations.
When acquiring a ready-made Lithuanian company, the buyer should conduct appropriate legal, financial and tax due diligence. Existing bank accounts do not universally have to be closed before a share transfer, although account providers may require updated ownership and beneficial ownership information, new authorised signatories and additional KYC checks. The seller should provide available evidence concerning the company’s financial position, liabilities, tax compliance and previous activities. Due diligence and contractual warranties can reduce acquisition risks but cannot guarantee that undisclosed liabilities do not exist.
A number of shareholders and directors of the company may be of any nationality.
A Lithuanian ready-made UAB may generally be purchased remotely through an appropriately authorised representative, subject to the formal requirements of the share transfer. Under Article 1.74 of the Lithuanian Civil Code, a UAB share purchase agreement generally requires notarisation when 25% or more of the shares are sold or the transaction price exceeds EUR 14,500, unless a statutory exception applies. A power of attorney issued abroad may require notarisation, an apostille or legalisation, and an appropriate Lithuanian translation. The buyer must also complete the applicable identity verification, beneficial ownership and AML/KYC procedures. Following the acquisition of a Lithuanian UAB, the required corporate and registration updates must be completed through the relevant systems maintained by the Centre of Registers. Shareholder information is submitted to JADIS, while ultimate beneficial ownership information is maintained in JANGIS. Changes to the company director and other information recorded in the Register of Legal Entities (JAR) must be filed where applicable. Processing times depend on the type of filing, completeness of the documentation and applicable registration procedure. Shareholder information is not universally displayed as part of the public JAR company extract.
Lithuanian ready-to-go companies offer a number of advantages:
- Purchasing a ready-made Lithuanian UAB may reduce the time needed to obtain an existing registered legal entity. However, incorporation of a new UAB can generally be completed within several working days after submission of complete and compliant documents. A ready-made company acquisition may require additional time for legal due diligence, notarisation, share transfer documentation, KYC checks and updates to shareholder, beneficial ownership and management records. Purchasing an existing company is therefore not automatically two to three weeks faster than incorporating a new one.
- The authorized capital of 1,000 EUR has already been deposited in the finished company, so there is no need to contribute a registered capital.
- Buying a ready-made company from Lithuania does not require you to visit the country (the company can be purchased by proxy).
Many studies have shown that customers prefer companies with experience on the market because they appear to be trustworthy and have confidence in their expertise. As a result, the customer will feel confident that they can use your services since it will give the impression that they have been around for some time.
The time required to establish a Lithuanian UAB depends on the completeness of the incorporation documents, the chosen registration procedure and any notarisation or identity verification requirements. Purchasing an existing company may be convenient in certain circumstances, but transferring its shares can involve additional formalities and expenses. Higher state registration fees do not automatically guarantee faster incorporation, and the overall time and cost of both options should be compared individually.
Purchasing an established Lithuanian company may provide advantages where the company has a documented operating history, relevant commercial experience or existing contractual relationships. However, public procurement eligibility depends on the conditions of the particular tender and applicable Lithuanian and EU procurement legislation. There is no universal requirement that all tender participants must have been registered for a minimum period. Purchasing an older shelf company without genuine commercial activity does not automatically satisfy experience, financial capacity or technical qualification requirements.
Fast company re-registration to a new owner
Low cost in comparison to other options
Previously contributed share capital – the buyer acquires an existing company without normally having to make a new initial capital contribution. Dividends may be distributed only from legally available profits and subject to the financial conditions and shareholder approval requirements established by the Lithuanian Law on Companies. Paid-up share capital does not itself create a right to distribute dividends.
Completely remote re-registration of the company to the new owner
