Nobel Winds & Breezes Good poetry begins with the lightest touch, a breeze arriving from nowhere, a whispered healing arrival, a word in your ear, a settling into things, then like a hand in the dark it arrests the whole body, steeling you for revelation. (David Whyte) Let’s talk about winds. Nobel winds. Nobel winds… Continue reading FINAL POSTING OF 2009
Tag: spighthoff
A COMPARISON OF THE DUTCH BV AND THE DUTCH ANTILLEAN BV
There are similarities and differences There are certain similarities between the Dutch and the Antillean BV, in fact they are fundamentally the same type of entity. The main object of the Antillean legislator was, however, flexibility and maximum freedom of organization and presentation. Accordingly, the Antillean Act contains few mandatory provisions, such as provisions relating… Continue reading A COMPARISON OF THE DUTCH BV AND THE DUTCH ANTILLEAN BV
THE INCORPORATION OF A NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Incorporating an NV or BV is not a hassle The act on corporate law (Book 2 Netherlands Antilles Civil Code) governs the NV (‘public limited liability company’) and BV (‘private limited liability company’). These companies can be used for group finance or holding activities, (international) joint-ventures, funds, structured finance and “plain-vanilla” (local) activities. A notarial… Continue reading THE INCORPORATION OF A NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
THE CUSTODY OF SECURITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN
Separate legal entity Generally, securities that must be held by a Netherlands Antilles bank on behalf of its clients will be held by a custodian. In most cases the custodian is either a foundation (‘stichting’) or a wholly owned subsidiary (NV or BV) of the bank. The scope of the activities of the custodian will… Continue reading THE CUSTODY OF SECURITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN
THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (III)
Case law the principle of good faith A legal entity and all involved in its organization have a legal duty to behave towards each in accordance with the principles of reasonableness and fairness, i.e. (objective) good faith. A provision or requirement contained in a legal entity’s articles of association or by-laws, may be set aside… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (III)
THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (II)
Limitations on the applicability of provisions As a general matter of Netherlands Antilles law, the interpretation of terms contained in legal documents, such as the articles of association and the by-laws, however only to a certain extent, inter alia subject to the intention of the parties, and the enforcement thereof, is subject to the overriding… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (II)
THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (I)
Ranging from basic to extremely complex Under the laws of the Netherlands Antilles, public and private limited liability companies (NVs or BVs), foundations, co-operatives, mutual insurance societies and associations are considered legal entities. The articles of incorporation (a.k.a. articles of association) provide the regulatory framework by which these legal entities in the Netherlands Antilles are… Continue reading THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A DUTCH CARIBBEAN LEGAL ENTITY (I)
AMSTERDAM COURT OF APPEAL ON LIABILITY OF TRUST DIRECTORS
Trust directors not treated differently from regular directors The board of directors of an NV or BV may contractually agree to a limitation of its powers to manage the company. Such arrangements are typical for trust offices engaged by a foreign ultimate beneficiary to render services to ‘his’ company, i.e. the client of a trust… Continue reading AMSTERDAM COURT OF APPEAL ON LIABILITY OF TRUST DIRECTORS
BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (V)
Restrictions on termination With regards to damages, the aim thereof is generally to restore the creditor to the position he would have been in had the contract been fulfilled. In case of breach of contract, the damages will usually be assessed by considering the situation the creditor would be in if restored to the position… Continue reading BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (V)
BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (IV)
Non-performance as a response to non-performance Whenever a party to a contract is faced with non–performance by the other party, the party’s first reaction might well be to suspend its part of the contract. In the legal sense of the word, suspending or withholding performance may be described as both a defense and a self… Continue reading BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (IV)
BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (III)
Different cases of breach of contract Any question of breach starts with an inquiry into the type of obligation at hand. It is necessary to know more about the type of obligation at hand in order to determine whether a party has failed to perform that obligation. When determining whether a party has failed to… Continue reading BREACH OF CONTRACT IN THE DUTCH ANTILLES (III)
LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
BZSE law office on Sint Maarten celebrates merger On October 2, 2009 BZSE law firm (BergmanZwanikkenSnowEssed) celebrated the merger of Bergman and ZwanikkenSnowEssed law offices and the official opening of their new offices in Belair (St. Maarten) with a lecture on good corporate governance. I was the keynote speaker and delivered my presentation in the… Continue reading LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE