ELECTRONIC AGREEMENTS IN CARACAO AND SINT MAARTEN

The Dutch Caribbean digital signature exists for over 10 years The Curacao Ordinance on Electronic Agreements a.k.a. the Curacao Ordinance on agreements concluded electronically (Landsverordening overeenkomsten langs elektronische weg) became effective on 1 January 2001. The Ordinance in St. Maarten is similar to the one in Curacao. The Ordinance provides that an electronic signature shall… Continue reading ELECTRONIC AGREEMENTS IN CARACAO AND SINT MAARTEN

GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVISITED

Where these rules not designed to protect companies from the government? 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… Continue reading GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVISITED

PROPOSED REVIEW DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE CODE

Various proposals not yes discussed here The prohibition of appointing Supervisory Directors besides a ‘one-tier Board’ will be deleted (Article 2:19 paragraph 1 proposed bill). Supervisory Directors being a legal entity are allowed to a limited extent (Article 2:19 paragraph 3 proposed bill). For the NV and the BV the law determines who has the right to… Continue reading PROPOSED REVIEW DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE CODE

NON-POSSESSORY PLEDGE UNDER THE LAWS OF ARUBA

A non-possessory pledge requires a deed Security rights are an important issue, especially in financing transactions. A company may, for example, guarantee the obligations of another company under a certain loan facility. There are several alternatives, one of which will be discussed here. Under the laws of Aruba there are several kinds of pledges, in… Continue reading NON-POSSESSORY PLEDGE UNDER THE LAWS OF ARUBA

LAW FIRM MARKETING AND THE INTERNET

Blog posts reinforce your expertise and reputation I found this article on CNN’s website: ‘How can small companies make money from social media?’, and it made me start thinking about whether social media is a business for law firms. I joined LinkedIn and SunZu (f.k.a. Ecademy) back in 2004. I was among the 1st million members of LinkedIn: member number… Continue reading LAW FIRM MARKETING AND THE INTERNET

LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN CURACAO

Corporate Governance Adviser must be a strong and independent watchdog over the executive also On April 13, 2010 a seminar on Good Corporate Governance with respect to Curacao-owned enterprises and foundations was held in Curacao, and organized by Certa Legal. I was one of the keynote speakers and delivered my presentation in the Dutch language… Continue reading LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN CURACAO

FOREIGN CLAIMS SECURED BY ARUBAN SECURITY RIGHTS

The foreign law governed claim must be sufficiently identifiable Many financing arrangements are of a cross-border nature. For instance, a loan agreement governed by English law with the loan secured by a right of pledge governed by the laws of Aruba. This raises all kinds of questions. Any foreign right, for instance a claim, in… Continue reading FOREIGN CLAIMS SECURED BY ARUBAN SECURITY RIGHTS

THE REPAYMENT OF SHARE PREMIUM IN THE NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN

Net equity may not be or become negative From the legal point of view in Netherlands Antilles, share premium (’agio’) forms part of the company’s free reserves, and does not qualify as share capital. If share premium is to be repaid, the company’s financial condition should at the time allow for it, i.e. the net… Continue reading THE REPAYMENT OF SHARE PREMIUM IN THE NETHERLANDS CARIBBEAN