Curaçao law cannot ‘break through’ to a legal relationship governed by foreign law Under Section 2:17 subsection 1 of the Curaçao Civil Code, the liability of a legal entity as a managing director of another legal entity (the direct or 1st degree director) also rests jointly and severally on each person who at the time… Continue reading IMPACT OF LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTOR
Tag: corporation
KNOWLEDGE CEO CAN BE IMPUTED TO CORPORATION
Interesting opinion of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Knowledge can be both actual and constructive. The question is under what circumstances actual knowledge, for instance the CEO’s knowledge, can be imputed to the corporation. This question was addressed by the Ninth Circuit in its opinion of 23 October 2015 (securities… Continue reading KNOWLEDGE CEO CAN BE IMPUTED TO CORPORATION
LIABILITY OF THE SILENT PARTNER
The Supreme Court can give its opinion I will first describe Dutch law in this respect. A limited partnership (commanditaire vennootschap: ‘CV’) is a contractual, legal relationship between two or more persons or legal entities to carry on a business under a joint name, whereby the aim is to gain proprietary benefits on the basis… Continue reading LIABILITY OF THE SILENT PARTNER
SUPREME COURT U-TURN
The bankruptcy of a general partnership (‘VOF’) does not automatically mean the bankruptcy of its partners For many decades the rule had to be adhered to that the bankruptcy of a general partnership (vennootschap onder firma: ‘VOF’) also meant the bankruptcy of the individual partners (Supreme Court 14 April 1927, NJ 1927, page 725). However,… Continue reading SUPREME COURT U-TURN
QUASI DIRECTOR OR JUST THE BOSS?
This depends on the facts If a legal entity (an NV or BV comes to mind) becomes bankrupt, any director (according to its Articles) becomes jointly and severally liable for the deficit of the bankrupt’s estate if it is apparent that there has been improper management and it is plausible that this was a major… Continue reading QUASI DIRECTOR OR JUST THE BOSS?
LIABILITY OF A NEW PARTNER
Supreme Court creates clarity The National Ordinance on Partnerships (Landsverordening personenvennootschappen) of Curacao (1 January 2012) and St. Maarten (1 April 2014) mentions two main variants of the partnership: the public partnership and the silent partnership. The public partnership is a partnership (i) for carrying on a profession or business or performing professional or business… Continue reading LIABILITY OF A NEW PARTNER
REVOCATION OF A RESOLUTION TO DISSOLVE A LEGAL ENTITY
The Supreme Court formulated stringent conditions On 9 December 2014 the Dutch Supreme Court pronounced a ruling (ECLI:NL:HR:2014:3677; JOR 2015/33) which is also relevant to the law of the Caribbean (Is)lands of the Kingdom. On the basis of that ruling the following requirements are imposed on the revocation of a resolution to dissolve a legal entity:… Continue reading REVOCATION OF A RESOLUTION TO DISSOLVE A LEGAL ENTITY
A CORPORATION AND ITS ALTER EGO
Piercing or lifting the corporate veil As a general rule under Curaçao law, shareholders of corporate entities with limited liability do not risk more than their capital contribution. Such shareholders cannot be held liable for their corporations’ debts or obligations. These corporations are recognized as legal entities separate from their shareholders and managing directors. However,… Continue reading A CORPORATION AND ITS ALTER EGO
GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES
Opposing views on political influence Few people would argue that the rules issued by the state (government) must also be correctly and strictly observed by that same state. It cannot be well conceived that, for example, the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office (as instruments of the state) should be allowed to violate the law with… Continue reading GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES
THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Incorporating an NV or BV is not a hassle The act on corporate law (Book 2 Curaçao Civil Code) governs the NV (‘public limited liability company’) and BV (‘private limited liability company’). These companies can be used for group finance or holding activities, (international) joint-ventures, funds, structured finance, as a Curaçao Trust and for “plain-vanilla”… Continue reading THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
IMPACT OF THE LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTOR (I)
Liability of the 2nd degree director Under Section 2:17 subsection 1 of the Curaçao Civil Code, the liability of a legal entity as a director of another legal entity (the direct or 1st degree director) also rests jointly and severally on each person who at the time this liability arose for the legal entity was… Continue reading IMPACT OF THE LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTOR (I)
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY IN CURACAO
Quasi-director may be held liable too The members of the board of managing directors are personally and severally liable towards the limited liability company (NV or BV) 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… Continue reading DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY IN CURACAO