FINAL POSTING OF 2008

  This will be my final posting for 2008. What a year. It feels as if the whole world has changed more rapidly than ever before and not only as a result of the economic turmoil. The year 2009 is about to begin and it won’t be an easy year. Many will suffer from the… Continue reading FINAL POSTING OF 2008

THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATION

The concept of corporate officers is unknown The management board has the function of managing the corporation, i.e., making policy and conducting the day-to-day management of the corporation. The management board is responsible for the management of the BV and is authorized to represent it, except where restricted by the articles of incorporation. The management… Continue reading THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATION

A DUTCH CARIBBEAN BUSINESS LICENSE

License required According to the Netherlands Antilles Ordinance on the Establishment of a Business (Landsverordening betreffende vestiging van ondernemingen, PB 1946 nr. 43), a license is required to establish a company (vestigingsvergunning) as well as one to operate a company as an individual director who is not a “citizen” (directievergunning). According to the published policy… Continue reading A DUTCH CARIBBEAN BUSINESS LICENSE

THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT DUTCH CARIBBEAN PREJUDGMENT ATTACHMENT

FAQ Question 1 How easily can one obtain permission to freeze assets? The Netherlands Antilles Code of Civil Procedure provides the possibility to seize and freeze assets in anticipation of a court order to pay a certain amount or to return certain goods. This legal remedy is referred to as prejudgment attachment or seizure (conservatoir… Continue reading THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT DUTCH CARIBBEAN PREJUDGMENT ATTACHMENT

THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT DUTCH CARIBBEAN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

FAQ Question 1 Are there any particular issues that concern foreign plaintiffs in the Netherlands Antilles? If proceedings on the merits are initiated by a non-resident plaintiff, the defendant may ask the court to order that the plaintiff provide security for damages, costs and interest which it might be liable to pay as a result… Continue reading THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT DUTCH CARIBBEAN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

THREE QUESTIONS ON DUTCH CARRIBBEAN BANKRUPTCY LAWS

FAQ Question 1 In which cases and by whom may bankruptcy proceedings be initiated in accordance with Netherlands Antilles bankruptcy law? Filing for bankruptcy may be done either by the debtor itself or by one or more of its creditors. If the debtor is a company, the managing directors do not have the authority to… Continue reading THREE QUESTIONS ON DUTCH CARRIBBEAN BANKRUPTCY LAWS

NEW PRESIDENT CURACAO BAR ASSOCIATION

Meeting held on 12 December 2008 At the Curacao Bar Association’s annual meeting, Karel Frielink (Spigthoff) was formally elected to serve as President of the Curacao Bar Association for a two year-term. He is the successor of Eric de Vries (HBN Law). Eric Bokkes (Bokkes Fontein Advocaten), Daniel Zahavi (ZL Law) and Chester Peterson (Sulvaran… Continue reading NEW PRESIDENT CURACAO BAR ASSOCIATION

DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE LAW IN PRESSING CIRCUMSTANCES

Rules of law, articles and contract may be set aside According to Section 2:7(2) of the Netherlands Antilles Civil Code, any rule imposed, for instance, on board members or shareholders of a limited liability company, will not be deemed to apply, to the extent, in the given circumstances, that these would be unacceptable in terms of… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE LAW IN PRESSING CIRCUMSTANCES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CURACAO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Elections held on 11 December 2008 Willem “Billy” Jonckheer (owner Jonckheer Advertising & Marketing Consultants) has been re-elected as member of the Board of Directors of the Curacao Chamber of Commerce. Karel Frielink (partner Spigthoff Attorneys & Tax Advisers) has been elected to the same Board. The Curacao Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the… Continue reading BOARD OF DIRECTORS CURACAO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CAN A FOREIGN COMPANY BUY SHARES IN A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY?

Generally speaking: yes Under Netherlands Antilles law, no specific requirements exist regarding the purchase of shares in a Netherlands Antilles offshore company by a foreign company. The Netherlands Antilles do not have any anti-trust regulations. In the Netherlands Antilles there are no statutory requirements preventing the sale of one or all the shares issued and… Continue reading CAN A FOREIGN COMPANY BUY SHARES IN A DUTCH CARIBBEAN COMPANY?

DUTCH CARIBBEAN COURT DECISION IN TELECOM CASE

Scarlet about to enter telecom market in Sint Maarten On 18 November 2008, the Administrative Court in Sint Maarten ruled that the Executive Council of Sint Maarten was not authorized to refuse Scarlet a business license for the provision and operation of international telecommunications services in Sint Maarten (click here for the judgment). Scarlet, represented… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN COURT DECISION IN TELECOM CASE

INSURANCE BUSINESS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

Limitations apply to a foreign insurance company A foreign insurance company, i.e. a company not having its seat in the Netherlands Antilles and not operating through any kind of branch office (including a local representative), is allowed to insure a risk located in the Netherlands Antilles (for instance Curaçao), provided this occurs on an incidental… Continue reading INSURANCE BUSINESS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)