Management’s responsibility According to Netherlands Antilles law, annually, within eight months after the company’s financial year has ended, (unless this term has been extended by the general meeting) annual statements must be drawn up by the management board and submitted to the general meeting of shareholders. The annual statements, comprising the balance sheet, profit and loss account and… Continue reading THE FINANCIALS OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
Quality of health care is regulated Secondary health care in the Netherlands Antilles is provided in hospitals. There are seven hospitals on Curaçao, with a total of 1,187 beds, 46% of them in the Sint Elizabeth Hospital (Sehos) and 16.9% in various specialized institutes for the disabled and drug addicts. The Netherlands Antilles National Ordinance… Continue reading HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
MORATORIUM OF PAYMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)
The debtor may make an offer of composition The nature of a Netherlands Antilles’ moratorium differs substantially from a moratorium under US law and does, in particular, not cause pending proceedings to be stayed. Generally, a moratorium in the Netherlands Antilles protects a debtor from claims existing at the time of the moratorium. It does not prevent litigating… Continue reading MORATORIUM OF PAYMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)
MORATORIUM OF PAYMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)
An opportunity to recover Many companies face financial difficulties. Sometimes bankruptcy is the only option. The goal of the bankruptcy is the liquidation of the assets of the company and not to save the business, and this procedure is, therefore, not always the best procedure for realizing the full value of the company as a going… Continue reading MORATORIUM OF PAYMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)
SECURITY RIGHTS AND DUTCH CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW
Foreign security rights may be valid and enforceable According to Netherlands Antilles law, the question as to whether or not a security right may be created in a certain receivable must be determined according to the law governing that receivable. Netherlands Antilles international private law determines that the law that governs the receivable is the law that governs… Continue reading SECURITY RIGHTS AND DUTCH CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW
OFFICE DISBURSEMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
Not always charged at actual cost Most law firms charge their fees on the basis of hourly rates, which are determined by the seniority of the attorneys involved. It is also standard practice for Netherlands Antilles law firms to charge office disbursements separately as a percentage, e.g. 6%, of their legal fees. Such disbursements comprise, amongst other… Continue reading OFFICE DISBURSEMENTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
IMF REPORT ON THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
A long period of stagnation appears to have ended in the Netherlands Antilles The International Monetary Fund (IMF) undertook a mission – an official staff visit to the Netherlands Antilles – as part of regular consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement. Click here for their preliminary conclusions. According to the IMF, sustaining… Continue reading IMF REPORT ON THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
CORPORATE PENSION FUNDS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
Only legal entities may serve as a fund According to the Netherlands Antilles National Ordinance on Corporate Pension Funds only legal entities may serve as a corporate pension fund. The foundation (‘stichting’) is the legal form most used for these purposes. The main reason for using a foundation instead of a legal entity of which… Continue reading CORPORATE PENSION FUNDS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
INVESTMENT TREATIES AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Russia relatively immune In the May 2008 issue of Business Law International (Volume 9, No 2, pp. 100-113), an article by Noah Rubins and Azizjon Nazarov was published. In this article, ‘Investment Treaties and the Russian Federation: Baiting the Bear?‘, the authors look at international treaties for the encouragement and protection of foreign investment such… Continue reading INVESTMENT TREATIES AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANIES AND LIABILITY ISSUES
Shareholders are not personally liable Shareholders of an NV or BV are not personally liable for the liabilities of the company, except where this would be contrary to the law. With the exception of actions based on tort or when a shareholder may be held liable because he is considered a policy maker (see below),… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANIES AND LIABILITY ISSUES
DIRECTORS OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY
May a director resign when he chooses to do so? A Netherlands Antilles company (NV or BV) must have either a local director or a local representative. A company is not required to have more than one director, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. The Netherlands Antilles Corporate Code does not oblige the shareholders… Continue reading DIRECTORS OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY
VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY
Dissolution requires a shareholders’ decision The shareholders of a Netherlands Antilles company may voluntarily decide to dissolve a company (NV or BV), which requires a shareholders’ resolution in accordance with the articles of association. Publication of the dissolution of the company in the ‘Curaçaosche Courant’ (the Official Gazette of the Netherlands Antilles) by the liquidator… Continue reading VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY