CREDIT INSTITUTIONS IN ARUBA

A license is required According to Section 4 of the Aruba State Ordinance on the Supervision of the Credit System 1998 (SOSC), no enterprise or institution established in Aruba shall pursue the business of a credit institution unless it has obtained authorization to that end from the Central Bank. No enterprise or institution established outside… Continue reading CREDIT INSTITUTIONS IN ARUBA

THE CURACAO MEMBER-MANAGED COMPANY

The right form for small businesses Until March 1, 2004 only manager managed companies were known. According to the current Curacao Civil Code, the articles of a company may provide that such company be a member managed company, which is a company without a board of directors. The shareholders (members) are then in charge of… Continue reading THE CURACAO MEMBER-MANAGED COMPANY

THE CURACAO PRIVATE FOUNDATION

A Private Foundation can be used for tax planning and asset protection The Curacao Private Foundation was introduced by the National Ordinance Regarding Foundations as published on October 31, 1998. Since March 1st, 2004, these rules are laid down in Book 2 of the Curacao Civil Code. The Private Foundation possesses corporate personality but does… Continue reading THE CURACAO PRIVATE FOUNDATION

THE ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGEMENT BY THE COURTS IN CURACAO

Judgments are immediately enforceable most of the time According to Article 55, par. 1 of the Curacao Code of Civil Procedure, opposition (in the case of a default judgment) or appeal (in the event of adversarial proceedings) prevent the enforcement (execution) of a judgment unless the decision is ‘enforceable notwithstanding opposition or appeal’ a.k.a. a… Continue reading THE ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGEMENT BY THE COURTS IN CURACAO

THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM

A well developed system The judicial system of the various islands in the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius) is independent, has a long history, and is well developed. It is capable of resolving complex commercial disputes in a just and efficient manner. The judges in the Dutch Caribbean are… Continue reading THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM

U.S. JUDGMENTS AND CURACAO

The recognition and enforceability of foreign judgments in the absence of a treaty In the absence of an applicable treaty between foreign countries (for example the U.S.) and Curacao, a judgment rendered by a U.S. court will not be enforced by Curacaoan courts. In order to obtain a judgment which is enforceable in Curacao the… Continue reading U.S. JUDGMENTS AND CURACAO

SECURITIZATION IN CURACAO

Curacaoan special purpose vehicles are commonly used in cross–border financing transactions Curacaoan special purpose vehicles (SPVs) are commonly used in both cross–border financing transactions as well as in Curacao domestic financing transactions. As far as cross–border transactions are concerned, (synthetic and cash) securitizations, repackagings, collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), leasing transactions, MTN… Continue reading SECURITIZATION IN CURACAO

THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF A LARGE CURACAO COMPANY

Stricter rules for large companies Under Curacao law the annual accounts of limited liability companies which do not qualify as so called large companies, need to be prepared in accordance with generally accepted standards and shall provide sufficient insight as to enable a sound judgment to be formed regarding the assets and the results and,… Continue reading THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF A LARGE CURACAO COMPANY

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN ARUBA, BONAIRE, CURACAO AND SAINT MAARTEN

Preliminary relief within several weeks, sometimes within days or hours In all matters for which an immediate injunction, measure, or decision is required, the parties may address themselves to the Courts. If the matter does not require immediate resolution, the Court will deny the relief sought and refer the parties to the normal procedure. These… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN ARUBA, BONAIRE, CURACAO AND SAINT MAARTEN

GRANTING DISCHARGE TO MANAGING DIRECTORS

Discharge is not bankruptcy proof The Civil Codes of Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire do not contain provisions specifically dealing with discharging managing directors from liability. Neither is there conclusive Dutch Caribbean case law available yet. Managing directors of a limited liability company (NV or BV) can be discharged from their liability towards the company.… Continue reading GRANTING DISCHARGE TO MANAGING DIRECTORS

STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES LACK OF INDEPENDENT SUPERVISION

Independent supervision should be mandatory for government-owned entities It has been my opinion for many years already that government-owned companies should be kept out of the political sphere as much as possible, so that they may benefit from a commercial, businesslike and market-oriented management. In doing so they also run less of a risk of… Continue reading STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES LACK OF INDEPENDENT SUPERVISION

BANKING REGULATIONS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

Soliciting funds requires a license The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved on October 10, 2010. Prior to that date the Netherlands Antilles consisted of Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, and formed, together with the Netherlands and Aruba, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao and St. Maarten have become independent countries within the Kingdom.… Continue reading BANKING REGULATIONS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN