What is a CIC?

How is a CIC Different?

CICs have special features. Think of it as a bridge between traditional business and charity, combining business efficiency with social purpose.

• Asset Lock: Assets and profits are permanently locked for community benefit, ensuring resources can't be diverted for private advantage. This provides security that the company's wealth will always serve its social mission.
• Regulated Structure: Operations are overseen by the CIC Regulator, a government body that ensures the company maintains its community focus and operates in the public interest. This provides accountability and credibility to our social commitments.
• Legally Binding: Our social mission isn't just a promise, it's protected by law. This legal framework ensures our commitment to community benefit remains binding, regardless of changes in leadership or market conditions.
• Transparent Reporting: Beyond standard financial reporting, we must demonstrate our social impact through annual CIC reports. This includes full transparency about founder and director remuneration, ensuring accountability in how we compensate leadership and use our resources for public benefit.

BadBear Games as a CIC

BadBear Games is registered as a Community Interest Company limited by shares, combining social purpose with the flexibility to raise investment.

We chose this structure because we believe the gaming industry could benefit from a new approach that ensures sustainable development practices while directly benefiting our team, partners, and the wider gaming community.

• Profit Distribution: We operate under regulated profit distribution rules that limit dividend payments to 35% of distributable profits. This regulation ensures we maintain a healthy balance between attracting investment and fulfilling our community benefit mission. Our model focuses on reinvestment in the studio's growth and fair profit sharing among team members.
• Educational Impact: We actively contribute to game development education through mentorship programs, workshops, and partnerships with educational institutions.
• Sustainable Development: Our structure ensures we prioritizs both environmental sustainability and sustainable work practices, creating a better future for our team and the industry.
• Community Focus: Through our CIC structure, we're committed to fostering a thriving game development community, supporting both internal team growth and industry-wide advancement.