ELECTRONIC MONEY INSTITUTIONS IN ARUBA

A license is required The European Central Bank defines e-money as follows (a non-legal definition): “E-money can be defined as any amount of monetary value represented by a claim issued on a prepaid basis, stored in an electronic medium (for example, a card or computer) and accepted as a means of payment by undertakings other… Continue reading ELECTRONIC MONEY INSTITUTIONS IN ARUBA

THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (III)

Controlling minority? Such a situation (i.e. example 2) is possibly less desirable from the company’s perspective, certainly where the more essential decision-making is concerned. Although decisions should be taken on the basis of a discussion of content and it will not always be possible to predict how the meeting of shareholders will vote, the possibility… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (III)

THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (I)

Comparable with a constitution The articles of association of a Curaçao company (a public [NV] or private [BV] limited liability company) are somewhat comparable with a constitution or state regulations: the articles of association comprise – like the law, but also additionally to the law and, where permitted, unlike the law – the rules of… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (I)

VALIDLY REPRESENTING A CURACAO COMPANY

Extract and Articles are of importance Limited liability companies like the Curaçao NV or BV are legal entities. Whether or not a managing director has the authority to validly represent a company can be derived from the extract from the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce of Curaçao together with the articles of association… Continue reading VALIDLY REPRESENTING A CURACAO COMPANY

ASSET PROTECTION IN CURACAO

Curaçao: a jurisdiction not to be missed A Curaçao private foundation or a trust is often used for asset protection and privacy purposes. The Curaçao private foundation and the Curaçao trust must be set up by a notarial deed executed before a civil law notary in Curaçao. Both the private foundation and the trust are… Continue reading ASSET PROTECTION IN CURACAO

THE COSTS OF LITIGATION

Parties have to bear their own attorney costs Under the laws of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, generally speaking, each party has to bear its own attorney costs, except if there is an agreement in place between the parties providing for such compensation. Other costs related to proceedings are for instance… Continue reading THE COSTS OF LITIGATION

THE CURACAO TRUST

Can be used as protected or segregated cell company On 1 January 2012, new legislation entered into force according to which it is now possible to set up a trust (Curacao Trust) similar to the trust in Anglo-Saxon common law jurisdictions. The introduction of the Curacao Trust serves as an important instrument which could be… Continue reading THE CURACAO TRUST

A CURACAO COMPANY WITH NEGATIVE EQUITY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Restrictions for providing financial support to a party acquiring shares in its capital? A company cannot purchase its own shares if it has a negative equity capital or when this equity capital becomes negative by purchasing them, whereby the nominal capital applies as the lower limit (Section 2:114 subsection 2 of the Curaçao Civil Code… Continue reading A CURACAO COMPANY WITH NEGATIVE EQUITY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

THE INDEPENDENT SUPERVISORY BOARD IN CURACAO

Should be mandatory for government-owned entities Under the laws of Curaçao, the main task of a board of supervisory directors is to supervise the board of managing directors of a limited liability company (NV or BV). The Corporate Code provides for two different kinds of boards of supervisory directors, a “regular” board of supervisory directors… Continue reading THE INDEPENDENT SUPERVISORY BOARD IN CURACAO

THIS BLOG IS ARCHIVED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Blogs of today can be studied for years to come I’m thrilled to learn from Robert Ambrogi’s blog that “Karel’s Legal Blog” has been archived in the Library of Congress: On the Internet there is no rule against perpetuities. To the contrary our perpetuation seems assured. Latest case in point: the new Legal Blawgs Web… Continue reading THIS BLOG IS ARCHIVED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

THE REPAYMENT OF SHARE PREMIUM IN CURACAO

Net equity may not be or become negative From the legal point of view in Curaçao, share premium (’agio’) forms part of the company’s free reserves (Curaçao law does not provide for statutory reserves), and does not qualify as share capital. If share premium is to be repaid, the company’s financial condition should at the… Continue reading THE REPAYMENT OF SHARE PREMIUM IN CURACAO

BEARER SHARES IN A CURACAO COMPANY

Registered shares must be issued first According to the Curaçao act on corporate law (Book 2 Curaçao Civil Code) it is not possible to (directly) issue bearer shares. A company with only bearer shares has no shareholders’ register. Only a public limited liability company (NV) may issue bearer shares, provided that registered shares be issued… Continue reading BEARER SHARES IN A CURACAO COMPANY