GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (I)

For Hobbes, it is certain that there must be a sovereign According to Thomas Hobbes we all have natural passions that carry us to, among other things, partiality, pride, and revenge. The laws of nature, as Hobbes sees them, including ‘justice’, ‘equity’, ‘modesty’, and ‘mercy’, are contrary to our passions. Therefore, we will only observe… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (I)

CURACAO COURT INTERVENES IN POLITICAL APPOINTMENT

Political appointments unacceptable The Court of First Instance of Curacao passed judgment on 23 January 2012 in the case of Selikor N.V. versus Drs. Ivar Asjes (JOR 2012, 105). This case is a follow-up to the judgment of the Joint Court of Appeal of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba of 10 August 2010, JOR 2010,… Continue reading CURACAO COURT INTERVENES IN POLITICAL APPOINTMENT

INQUIRY PROCEDURE IN CURACAO

Important court decision for the local trust practice On 30 March 2012 the first petition for an inquiry procedure under the new law was dealt with by the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten, and of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Karel Frielink and Dinesh Mishre had the honor of acting… Continue reading INQUIRY PROCEDURE IN CURACAO

BANKING SUPERVISION IN CURACAO AND SINT MAARTEN

Prudential rules and requirements The Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten is responsible for the care of the financial system’s health, effected through on and off site inspections of the banking and other financial institutions authorized to operate in Curacao and St. Maarten. The National ordinance on the supervision of banks and credit institutions… Continue reading BANKING SUPERVISION IN CURACAO AND SINT MAARTEN

SURPRISE RULING BY SINT MAARTEN COURT

Court introduces non-statutory transfer of employees In the Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom), when an undertaking (onderneming) is transferred from one person or entity to another, by operation of law the employees have an employment relationship with the new owner on the terms and conditions agreed with the old employer. For example, such… Continue reading SURPRISE RULING BY SINT MAARTEN COURT

ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN CURACAO

Notification no longer necessary for perfection of assignment Under Curacao law the transfer of ownership requires transfer of title (levering) pursuant to a valid legal title (geldige titel) by a person who has the power of disposal over the asset (beschikkingsbevoegheid) being transferred. The rules on transfer of title (levering) are equally applicable to the… Continue reading ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN CURACAO

REGULATORY LEGISLATION IN CURACAO

General requirements on the business operation Regulatory legislation in Curacao does not distinguish between different kinds of products, such as for instance hedge funds, but is of a more general nature. The regulatory legislation of Curacao applicable to financial institutions is divided into four categories being: credit institutions, institutional investors, investment institutions & administrators and… Continue reading REGULATORY LEGISLATION IN CURACAO

CURACAO TRUST LEGISLATION

Entered into force on 1 January 2012 On January 1st 2012, new legalization entered into force pursuant to which it is now possible to set up a trust, similar to the trust in Anglo-Saxon common law jurisdictions, in Curacao. This trust is a legal exception to the paritas creditorum rule as we know it and… Continue reading CURACAO TRUST LEGISLATION

INQUIRY PROCEDURE INTRODUCED IN CURACAO

The Joint Court is the forum of choice for corporate disputes As per January 1, 2012 the amended Corporate Code (Book 2 Civil Code) of Curacao entered into force. The new legislation introduces a so-called inquiry procedure for, amongst others, limited liability companies. The inquiry procedure (a.k.a. investigation proceedings) can result in a court ordered… Continue reading INQUIRY PROCEDURE INTRODUCED IN CURACAO

APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

Full review of the case Appellate proceedings in the Dutch Caribbean provide for a full review of the appealed decision: the grounds on which the Appellate Court can reverse the original judgment are not, as in certain other jurisdictions, limited to procedural matters. It is furthermore permissible to introduce new documentary evidence in the course… Continue reading APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

INSURANCE BUSINESS IN ARUBA (II)

Different insurance contracts According to the SOSIB a “life insurance agreement” is an insurance contract concerning the payment of cash benefits related to the life or death of man, and a “general insurance contract” is an insurance contract, other than a life insurance contract. Generally, an insurance contract is understood to be an agreement whereby… Continue reading INSURANCE BUSINESS IN ARUBA (II)

INSURANCE BUSINESS IN ARUBA (I)

The Central Bank of Aruba is the regulator The Central Bank of Aruba supervises insurers incorporated in Aruba and the branches and agencies in Aruba of insurers incorporated outside Aruba based on the State Ordinance on the Supervision of the Insurance Business (SOSIB). The SOSIB, effective since 2001, stipulates that life and non-life insurance business… Continue reading INSURANCE BUSINESS IN ARUBA (I)