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
Tag: dutch caribbean
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
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)
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
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS IN CURACAO
Money laundering is prohibited Title XXXI of the Penal Code of Curaçao basically prohibits any type of money laundering. The National Ordinance on the Reporting of Unusual Transactions (NORUT) obliges service providers acting in the course of a business or profession, to report unusual transactions. The National Ordinance on Identification of clients when Rendering Services (NOIS)… Continue reading ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS IN CURACAO
IMPACT OF THE LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTOR (II)
2nd degree director as director of a foreign corporate director It appears from the 2011 ruling referred to by the Supreme Court that Section 2:11 of the Dutch Civil Code is applicable to the joint and several liability of a director of a Dutch legal entity being a director of another Dutch legal entity. The… Continue reading IMPACT OF THE LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTOR (II)
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