External Companies
External companies, whether from the European Economic Area (EEA) or non-EEA territories, are subject to specific requirements under Part 21 of the Companies Act 2014 when establishing branches in Ireland. Such branches must adhere to registration and disclosure requirements, including providing details of their constitutive documents, directors, and financial statements to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) within designated timeframes.
For EEA companies, regulations necessitate the submission of constitutive documents and regular updates regarding changes in directors, address, or winding-up status. They must also provide accounting documents in line with EEA state laws. Non-EEA companies have similar requirements, with adjustments based on their jurisdiction of origin and may opt for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or EU Directive accounts if they meet certain criteria.
Publicity obligations require that all communications relating to an external company’s branch include specific registration details. Breaching these obligations constitutes a category 3 offence.
Additionally, service of documents on external companies must adhere to specific guidelines, including the requirement for certified translations if the document is not in English or Irish. This provision ceases after two years if the branch is closed.
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