Karel's Legal Blog

Antilles oppose place on list of tax haven  
WILLEMSTAD/WASHINGTON  Together with 33 other islands / countries, the Netherlands Antilles appears on a recent proposed bill by three American senators that want to engage the tax haven abuse (abuse of tax paradises). Via diplomatic channels in Willemstad, The Hague, and Washington, the Antillean government is vigorously protesting [...]

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No specific requirements
Under Netherlands Antilles law, no specific requirements exist regarding the purchase of shares in a Netherlands Antilles offshore company by a foreign company. The Netherlands Antilles do not have any anti-trust regulations.
In the Netherlands Antilles there are no statutory requirements preventing the sale of one or all of the shares issued and outstanding [...]

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What are the service provider’s obligations?
Suppose you are a service provider (operator, i.e., an entity which offers services for facilitating information by electronic means) based in the Netherlands Antilles. One of your customers downloaded a copyrighted movie and (allegedly) offers the same to others without any required permission. The foreign holder of the copyrights demands [...]

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No license, no business
It is required under rules of Netherlands Antilles public law to obtain a business license for establishing and conducting business in the Netherlands Antilles. The responsible public authority in respect of the granting of a business license is the Service for Economic Affairs (‘Dienst Economische Zaken’, “DEZ”).
According to DEZ, foreign legal entities [...]

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Supervision only if pension promise has been made
Under Netherlands Antilles National Ordinance on company pension funds 1985 (‘Landsverordening ondernemingspensioenfondsen’; the “NOP”), company pension funds are subject to supervision by the Netherlands Antilles Central Bank.
The NOP is based upon the principle that if an employer makes a pension promise, it can fulfill this pension promise in [...]

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Supreme Court ruled on controversial issue
The Supreme Court of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba ruled on 13 April 2007 that Aruba must recognize same-sex marriages registered in the Netherlands.
Same-sex couples can marry in the Netherlands for six years already. However, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles have not changed their legislation which still does not allow [...]

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Central Bank requires IFRS
The financial statements of Netherlands Antilles banking institutions must be prepared in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). The IFRS are a set of accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Deviation from this standard is allowed only after prior written approval from the Netherlands Antilles Central Bank. The [...]

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There are certain exceptions
Many contracts are concluded on the telephone. Often a (fax) confirmation is sent of the most important terms of the transaction.
However, an oral contract as such creates a binding transaction under Dutch Caribbean Law (a.k.a. Netherlands Antilles and Aruba law). Oral agreements are valid and binding, unless the law requires certain formalities [...]

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Home country supervision exemption
The National Ordinance on the Supervision of Investment Institutions and Administrators 2002 (‘Landsverordening toezicht beleggingsinstellingen en administrateurs’) provides for a licensing system for investment institutions and administrators.
According to the Netherlands Antilles Central Bank’s policy guidelines on exemption for fund administrators, administrators not domiciled in the Netherlands Antilles that (i) provide administrative services [...]

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The economy starts booming again
Although Curacao is only a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea, it is most attractive for investors and tourists. Both will like the climate in terms of taxes and temperature. The financial, legal and technical infrastructure is excellent too.
Curacao is famous for its harbor: it is the largest natural harbor in [...]

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