THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN INCORPORATION DOCTRINE

The courts apply the law of the state where the legal entity was incorporated
The Netherlands Antilles adheres to the Incorporation Doctrine (Netherlands Antilles State Ordinance of 9 September 1960, which entered into force on the 10th of September 1960, P.B. 1960, 166). According to this doctrine, the internal affairs of a corporation are governed solely [...]

MOVING?

Transfer of seat and cross-border conversion
Globalization has made it very common for people to migrate to other countries. This not only applies to natural persons however, but also to legal entities. I.e. it is also possible for companies incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands Antilles to migrate to other countries.
The possibilities are:
A Transfer of [...]

DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

Personal and several liability
The members of the Board of Directors are personally and severally liable towards the NV (or BV, as the case may be) for any loss caused by the improper performance of duties. Each member of the Board who proves that he cannot be blamed for such improper performance and that the activities [...]

THE NEW SURINAM NV

An introduction to draft legislation
The law of the Republic of Surinam is in full swing. The Surinam government on a continuing basis is striving to introduce legislation in order to enhance its ability to attract quality business. A recent example is a whole new Civil Code, to become effective in 2010 or 2011 at the [...]

INADEQUATE CAPITALIZATION OF AN ARUBAN COMPANY

Liability for thin-capitalization?
In terms of ‘piercing the corporate veil’, thin or inadequate capitalization usually means capitalization that is not in proportion to the nature of the risks the business of the corporation necessarily entails; in other words it is based on likely economic needs rather than legal requirements.
Shareholders of a company in Aruba are under [...]

LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN CURACAO

Corporate Governance Adviser must be a strong and independent watchdog over the executive also
On April 13, 2010 a seminar on Good Corporate Governance with respect to Curacao-owned enterprises and foundations was held in Curacao, and organized by Certa Legal. I was one of the keynote speakers and delivered my presentation in the Dutch language (click [...]

PREJUDICED INTERESTS OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

They may force the company to take-over their shares
Article 2:251(1) of the Netherlands Antilles Civil Code reads as follows: “A shareholder of registered shares, whose rights or interests are prejudiced to such an extent, by the conduct of the company or one or more co-shareholders, that a continuation of his shareholding cannot reasonably be required of [...]

AANSPRAKELIJKHEID OVERHEID ALS AANDEELHOUDER

Symposium 26 februari 2010
Op vrijdag 26 februari 2010 vond het symposium ‘Overheid en aansprakelijkheid‘ plaats. Het symposium was georganiseerd door het Centrum voor Postacademisch Juridisch Onderwijs van de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen in samenwerking met de Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen.
Ik heb daar een verhaal mogen houden. De andere sprekers waren prof. mr P. van Schilfgaarde [...]

PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

Ignoring the legal personality of a company
A shareholder is not personally liable for acts performed in the name of the company and is not liable to contribute to losses of the company in excess of the amount which he must pay to the company as contribution for his shares. There is therefore a legal separation [...]

ARUBAN LAW REGARDING CORPORATE AUTHORITY

The Aruba Trade Register should be checked
The laws of Aruba provide that, subject to restrictions laid down by any statutory provision or a corporation’s articles of association, the board of directors of a company shall be competent to represent the company, i.e. a limited liability company (NV, AVV or VBA). In the event of the [...]