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Company formation

Establishment of company Offshore

 

1.  BVI 

 

British Virgin Islands – An “offshore company” is generally understood to be a corporation registered in a “tax haven” – low-tax or zero-tax country. Tax advantages, however, are by no means the only benefit to registering an international business enterprise in a jurisdiction like British Virgin Islands. A typical modern offshore company is a private corporation which is exempt from tax, suitable for virtually any international business activity, has a flexible organizational structure, is not subject to excessive accounting and reporting requirements and maintains certain level of confidentiality with rather limited information available to general public. The BVI offers all of these benefits – and more.

 

DOCUMENTS

 

The set of corporate documents for a BVI Business Company or will always include the standard logical sequence of documentation: original Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, the Minutes and Resolutions dealing with the appointment of Directors and the allocation of shares, share certificates, copies of the Registrar of Directors and the Registrar of Shareholders. If we have been ordered to provide a professional director or nominee shareholder service to the company, additional documentation may include share transfer forms, trust declarations and appointments of agent (power of attorney). If required by Your order we can also provide the corporate seal.

 

2. St.kitts and nevis

 

The twin islands of Nevis and St Kitts are an independent Commonwealth republic located in the Leeward Islands region of the Eastern Caribbean. Boasting a low crime rate and high literacy levels, St Kitts and Nevis has a well developed Financial Services sector relative to its size (population of just 40,000). A former British colony, St Kitts and Nevis gained independence from Great Britain in 1983 and retains a parliamentary democratic system of government based on the Westminster system. With English as its official language, good political stability and an English system of law and justice, St Kitts and Nevis remains a popular choice of jurisdiction for discerning Offshore investors.

 

 The Key features and benefits of incorporating an IBC in St Kitts and Nevis are:

  1. Political Independence: As an independent member of the Commonwealth, the St Kitts and Nevis jurisdiction is not facing pressure to dilute its attractive privacy features.
  2. Zero Tax: IBCs registered in St Kitts and Nevis are not liable to pay taxes of any kind.
  3. Assured Privacy: There is no public register of Directors or Shareholders in St Kitts and Nevis.
  4. Nominees Permissible: Nominee Shareholders and Professional Directors are permissible in St Kitts and Nevis and another Company can act as Nominee.
  5. Bearer Shares permitted: Bearer shares are permitted in St Kitts and Nevis but must be held in safe custody by an approved trustee.
  6. Prompt registration: Companies in St Kitts and Nevis can usually be incorporated within 48 hours
  7. Other features include:
  • Minimal Paperwork – There is no requirement to file an annual return nor for audited accounts to be kept for St Kitts and Nevis Companies.
  • Good Infrastructure – The government of St Kitts and Nevis has facilitated substantial investment in infrastructure over the years and communications are reliable.
  • Financial Stability – As a member of the Eastern Caribbean economic community St Kitts and Nevis boasts a stable currency and no exchange control issues.
  • Flexibility – Only one Director and Shareholder is required and board meetings can be held anywhere in the world.

 

3. Panama:

 

Panama is an excellent offshore destination for import/export, petroleum and mining activities, but is not ideal for trade with Europe. The country has the largest free trade zone in America (the Colon Free Trade Zone) which gives total tax exemption.

 

The various offshore entities available in Panama are :

  • Panama Corporation : does not require a minimum capital and requires the appointment of three directors and at least one shareholder. Its creation must be approved by a notary and the Public Registry Office.
  • Private Company : liability of shareholders is limited to the amount allocated.
  • Panama Trusts : to settle a Panamanian Trust, investors must be of foreign nationality, but they must have a Panamanian lawyer.
  • Panama Foundation: allows property to be held but does not allow the exercise of a commercial activity. The minimum capital is USD 10,000

 

4. Zug Switzerland

 

Your company and Company Registration in Switzerland. This will involve:

 

Discussing options and taking instructions from you, preparation and signature of all Fiduciary and Legal Agreements, opening of capital bank accounts for the capital of the company, preparing all incorporation documentation including the Foundation documentation including the Memorandum and Articles of Association (in German).

 

Arranging and attending the Notary Meeting to effect the incorporation and submission of all relevant incorporation documentation to the Commercial Registry for Company Registration.

 

Once the Company has been incorporated and registered there are a number of primary post incorporation tasks that need to be completed which we perform on your behalf namely:

  • Agreeing with you a chart of accounts for your Company and setting up an Accounting Mandate for your Company. Under Swiss law accounting records of the business are required to be maintained in Switzerland.
  • Discussing with you your business plans in a little more detail and preparation of a summary budget for the first 12 months of trading.
  • Establishing invoice and letterhead templates
  • Setting up bank accounts for the Company including in most cases online banking arrangements.
  • Registering the Company for Swiss VAT (where applicable)
  • Agreeing financial reporting formats and frequencies with you.
  • Agreeing with you operational policies with regard to the issue and receipt and payment of invoices and management of accounting records.
  • Agreeing with you operational processes relating to the setting up and forwarding of telephone calls, faxes, emails, and postal communications and suchlike. After Formation is complete the Company moves into an Administration phase where we provide on-going Administrative services covered by a Company Administration Agreement.

 

5. Delaware

Delaware General Corporation Law, which forms the basis of the Delaware Courts’ opinions, is widely regarded as giving great flexibility to corporations to manage their affairs. For these reasons, Delaware is considered to have the most business-friendly legal system in the United States, thus a great number of companies are incorporated in Delaware, including 60% of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Delaware Company, ideal for:
  • Businessmen
  • Commerce over the Internet
  • Consultants / Counsellors
  • Expatriates
  • Traders
  • Holding intellectual property rights
  • For the custody of real estate
  • For inheritance purposes
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