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How to Write a Company Information Sheet (CIS)

Follow these steps to draft a Company Information Sheet (CIS) that survives counterparty review, bank scrutiny and, if needed, ICC arbitration. Grab the free Company Information Sheet (CIS) template at the end.

Step-by-step

  1. 1. Legal identity
    Company name, registration number, VAT/tax registration, incorporation country and date.
  2. 2. Registered address & offices
    Registered office plus trading office if different. Include local phone and generic email.
  3. 3. Directors & UBOs
    Directors, shareholders holding above 10%, and ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) for KYC.
  4. 4. Banking details
    Primary bank, SWIFT, officer name for LC issuance.
  5. 5. Business summary
    Core business, main commodities, average annual turnover, principal counterparties.

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Leaving placeholder text like [ ] or {seller name} in the executed copy.
  • Missing signature date, or signing outside the validity window quoted on the document.
  • Referencing Incoterms without the year - always cite 'Incoterms 2020'.
  • Omitting the arbitration seat and governing law - defaults vary by country.
Free template
Free Company Information Sheet (CIS) Template
Free Company Information Sheet template in Word and PDF. Standardised KYC / onboarding profile for commodity traders — banking coordinates, signatories, references.
Get the template

FAQ

Is CIS the same as KYC?
No. CIS speeds KYC by giving the bank a single-page summary, but the bank still runs its own KYC and sanctions screening.
Do I share the CIS with intermediaries?
Share sparingly. UBO data is sensitive - release under NDA/NCNDA only.

Other how-to guides

How to Write a Sales & Purchase Agreement (SPA)How to Write a Letter of Intent (LOI)How to Write a Irrevocable Corporate Purchase Order (ICPO)How to Write a Full Corporate Offer (FCO)How to Write a Soft Corporate Offer (SCO)How to Write a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)How to Write a NCNDA (Non-Circumvention, Non-Disclosure)How to Write a IMFPA (Irrevocable Master Fee Protection)