THE COURT OF LAST RESORT

Curaçao court as court of last resort for civil matters An attachment on assets located in Curaçao generally establishes jurisdiction over the cause of action for which the attachment is made, also if neither of the parties involved are domiciled in Curaçao. According to Section 767 of the Curaçao Code of Civil Procedure, the Curaçao… Continue reading THE COURT OF LAST RESORT

150 JURIDISCHE PUBLICATIES

Een persoonlijke mijlpaal Afgelopen donderdag was het dan zo ver: mijn 150e juridische publicatie zag het levenslicht. Het gaat om mijn bijdrage aan het Liber Amicorum ‘Christels Koers’ dat toen werd aangeboden aan prof.mr. drs. C.M. Grundmann-van de Krol: “Openbaarmaking door de financiële toezichthouders”. De volledige lijst met publicaties is hier te vinden. Nummer 151 is overigens… Continue reading 150 JURIDISCHE PUBLICATIES

INDEPENDENT SUPERVISORY BOARD IN ST. MAARTEN

Should be mandatory for government-owned entities Under the laws of St. Maarten, 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 St. Maarten Corporate Code provides for two different kinds of boards of supervisory directors, a “regular” board… Continue reading INDEPENDENT SUPERVISORY BOARD IN ST. MAARTEN

US LAW GOVERNED AGREEMENTS

Curaçao and St. Maarten Courts will accept the choice of laws One of the questions frequently asked is whether the Courts in Curaçao or St. Maarten, if an action is brought before them, will pay deference to a “choice of governing law” and/or venue provision in an agreement, in particular when the parties have chosen… Continue reading US LAW GOVERNED AGREEMENTS

CREDIT INSTITUTIONS IN THE BES ISLANDS

Strictly regulated With effect from 1 July 2012, the Financial Markets (BES Islands) Act [Wet financiële markten BES; “Wfm BES”] came into force, with the associated subordinate regulations. The Wfm BES applies to financial institutions in the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba). There are several categories of financial institutions, including credit institutions (banks).… Continue reading CREDIT INSTITUTIONS IN THE BES ISLANDS

LIFTING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

Only under exceptional circumstances In terms of “piercing the corporate veil” and shareholders’ liability, the laws of the Netherlands and Aruba are nearly identical. As far as a tort matter concerns the laws of Aruba, Dutch case-law and Dutch legal literature should be considered as well. In exceptional cases shareholders of an Aruba company can… Continue reading LIFTING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

REGULATORY LAWS IN THE BES ISLANDS

There are three regulators According to the Dutch Central Bank (“DCB”), financial institutions must be sound, reliable and stable to ensure confidence among businesses, consumers and others. DCB states on its website: “In addition to making certain their customers are properly informed about their products and services, these institutions also have a duty of care… Continue reading REGULATORY LAWS IN THE BES ISLANDS

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

CHINA OPENT CONSULAAT IN CURACAO

China en Curacao kiezen voor economische samenwerking De consul-generaal van de Volksrepubliek China, mevrouw Chen Qiman, en de Chinese consul de heer Huixun Zhang, hebben op 15 oktober 2013 een kennismakingsbezoek gebracht aan Karel Frielink, de honorair-consul van Duitsland in Curaçao, St. Maarten en de BES-eilanden. Mevrouw Chen Qiman is de eerste consul-generaal van de… Continue reading CHINA OPENT CONSULAAT IN CURACAO

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 (II)

Articles determine the nature of the company A company’s articles of association determine the nature of the company (take for example the description of the purpose), regulate the internal competences (e.g. dismissal and appointment), limit the powers (e.g. decisions requiring approval), determine the internal responsibilities (e.g. drawing up the annual report and accounts), regulate the… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (II)

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)