There is a significant number of investors interested in purchasing an already registered company rather than incorporating a new one. This could be intended for a number of reasons, ranging from offering additional confidence to business partners or a presumed easier procedure for entering the Romanian market.

The procedure of purchasing shares in a Romanian company, even if this company did not have any activity in the past (a so-called “shelf company”) has its specifics when compared to the same procedure abroad, respectively:

- The procedure implies a larger number of paperwork, takes more time and is more expensive than incorporating a new company.
- The procedure automatically implies the following changes in the company structure: change of shareholders, change of company headquarters, change of directors (administrators), issuance of a new Certificate of Registration
 

- The procedure requires a Share Assignment Contract which has to be signed by both current shareholders and future ones.
- All changes in the company must be registered with the Trade Register in order to be considered valid.

The procedure requires the following documents: Company Resolution drafted in a certain format, a new version of the Articles of Association, a Share Assignment Agreement, Affidavits and Specimen Signatures for the future shareholders and directors and of course the documents necessary for the new company headquarters.

There are also the following aspects to be taken into consideration when looking to purchase a Romanian ready-made company:
- There is no such concept as nominee directors per the Romanian legislation;
- There is no real method to verify in what type of transactions/operations the company has been involved in the past therefore a diligent approach is recommended.