NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LABOR LAW (V)

Termination for urgent cause

A party to an employment agreement may be confronted with an urgent situation in which he cannot reasonably be expected to continue the employment. If this situation is caused by the employee, the employer is entitled to terminate the employment agreement without notice and with immediate effect. No DDLA permit is required.

The law sets forth a number of examples of an urgent cause:

(a) Misleading or false statements made while applying for the job;

(b) Serious lack of competence in the performance of duties;

(c) Theft, fraud, or crimes involving a breach of trust;

(d) False statements damaging the …
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19
Apr 2006
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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LABOR LAW (IV)

Termination by mutual consent

An employment agreement may be terminated by mutual consent. It is recommended that a termination by mutual consent is confirmed explicitly in a written document signed by both parties.

It is essential to ascertain that the employee understood what he was doing and acted freely. Case law shows that the employer is not allowed to rely too easily upon the acceptance of the employee to terminate the employment agreement by mutual consent. In practice an employee normally only co-operates to a mutual consent termination in exchange for a severance package.

Karel Frielink Attorney (Lawyer) / Partner …
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17
Apr 2006
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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LABOR LAW (III)

Notice of termination of an employment agreement for an indefinite period

Notice by the employer requires a permit from the the Director of the Directorate of Labor Affairs (“DDLA”; “Directeur van Directie Arbeidszaken”). Until this DDLA permit is obtained, any notice is null and void and does not terminate the employment.

In the application for an DDLA permit the employer must specify the reasons for the intended termination. These reasons must be substantiated: the employer must bring evidence. The DDLA sends a copy of the application and of the exhibits thereto to the employee, inviting him or her to respond …
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15
Apr 2006
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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LABOR LAW (II)

Employment agreements for a definite period

It is not unusual to conclude an employment agreement for a definite period in order to avoid the difficulties relating to the termination of an employment agreement for an indefinite period. The agreement for a definite period terminates automatically on the expiration of the agreed period, unless agreed otherwise.

If the employment continues after expiration of the definite period, the agreement is extended by operation of law under the same terms and conditions and for the same period of time as the original agreement, with a maximum of one year per extension. Once the …
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13
Apr 2006
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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LABOR LAW (I)

Termination

Although the termination of an employment agreement is basically a matter between the employer and the employee, it must comply with certain statutory rules. These rules provide for rather extensive job protection.

A distinction has to be made between an employment agreement for a definite period of time and an employment agreement for an indefinite period of time. An employment agreement for a definite period terminates in principle automatically, by operation of law, on the expiration of the agreed period. The agreement for an indefinite period is terminated by giving notice of termination. Such notice requires prior permission of …
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11
Apr 2006
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PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

The ultimate vehicle for tax- and estate-planning

Introduction The Netherlands Antilles Private Foundation has been introduced in the Netherlands Antilles Law through 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 Civil Code.

The Private Foundation possesses corporate personality but does not have a share capital. The Private Foundation is incorporated by deed executed before a Netherlands Antilles civil law notary and is registered in the Register of Foundations at the Chamber of Commerce.

The Private Foundation is exempt (objective) from local profit tax …
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08
Apr 2006
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THE CAPITAL OF A NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Shareholders have the freedom to organize the company the way they want

A limited liability company has shares. If a certain right does not comprise a voting right nor a right to share in distributions of the company’s income (dividends) it is not deemed to be a share. Concepts like registered, subscribed and contributed capital do not occur in the Netherlands Antilles Corporate Act. Therefore, no minimum capital is required, unless such a requirement is specifically included in the articles of association.

There can be voting shares, non-voting shares and shares with restricted voting rights, meaning they either do or …
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06
Apr 2006
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荷属安的列斯群岛的对冲基金和征税

荷属安的列斯群岛提供有利的税收环境

荷属安的列斯群岛为对冲基金提供有利的税收、法律和监管环境。在荷属安的列斯群岛,你可以事先与税务部门进行讨论,以确定将来什么样的公平补偿是可以接受的。对冲基金可享受免税待遇。而且,荷属安的列斯群岛正在与多个国家 —— 譬如委内瑞拉 —— 缔结税务方面的条约。

荷属安的列斯群岛不征收红利和许可使用费的预扣税。在卢森堡、英属维尔京群岛以及根西岛和泽西岛等地,按照欧盟储蓄方针,在欧盟国家居住的个人,其个人储蓄帐户利息的预扣税已经制定(但还没有生效)。在欧洲和许多其它国家,欧洲联盟储蓄方针的采用对于具备UCITS(可转让证券集体投资企业)资质的基金及其管理者带来了不小的负担。与开曼群岛的做法不同,在库拉索岛设立的基金不构成UCITS资质,因此在这里既没有必要拒绝赎回,也没有必要将客户信息披露给第三国的税务当局。

荷属安的列斯群岛的公司税将取决于(对冲)基金所采用的投资工具的种类。请注意,就荷属安的列斯群岛企业所得税和(如适用)税赋条约而言,下面内容只有当(对冲)基金是荷属安的列斯群岛的居民公司时方适用。因此,若干实质要求应该在荷属安的列斯群岛加以履行。

在特定条件下,一家BV(私人有限责任公司)是可能获得免税地位的。一旦享有这一地位,该BV即无需缴纳荷属安的列斯群岛的企业所得税。但若想获得这一地位,需要满足一系列条件。

2004年9月9 日,税务当局颁布了一项反滥用规定。若某一公司的利润超出其从那些无须按照至少15%的税率缴纳利润税的公司所获得的红利中赢得的利润的5%以上,则该公司的免所得税地位将被取消。

就荷属安的列斯群岛流转税而言,由于利息不被认为是适合征税的报酬,因此对于利息付款并不征收荷属安的列斯群岛流转税。并且,(对冲)基金的股票发行对价的付款、短期债券的转让、或债务证券的本金或贴水(如有)均无需缴纳流转税。

投资顾问或经理、律师和会计师的收费所得通常需要交纳流转税。而且向荷属安的列斯群岛的信托投资公司支付的任何收费均需缴纳增值税。但是,如特定条件得到满足,(对冲)基金也可免交流转税。同样,在满足特定条件后,投资顾问或经理、律师和会计师,以及荷属安的列斯群岛的信托投资公司的任何收费都可免交流转税。

Karel Frielink

05
Apr 2006
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オランダ領アンティル諸島のヘッジファンドと課税

オランダ領アンティル諸島が提供する有利な税制環境

オランダ領アンティル諸島は、(ヘッジ)ファンドに有利な税的、法的、規制上の環境が整っています。 オランダ領アンティル諸島では、どのような公正な報酬ならば容認されるのかを、事前に税務当局と話し合うことが可能です。ヘッジファンドには免税手段が用意されています。 その上オランダ領アンティル諸島では、ベネズエラなどの数ヶ国と租税条約を結んでいます。

オランダ領アンティル諸島は、配当またはロイヤリティーに対して源泉徴収税を課すことはありません。EU居住者の個人預金の利息に対する源泉徴収税は、ルクセンブルグ、BVI (英領バージン諸島)、ガーンジー島、ジャージー島などで導入されている、貯蓄課税に関するEU指令に即して導入されています。欧州およびその他多数の国々における貯蓄課税に関するEU指令の示唆は、UCITS:Undertaking for the Collective Investment of Transferable Securities(譲渡性有価証券共同投資事業)として有資格のファンドおよび管理者にとっては厄介なものです。 ケイマン諸島などとは対照的に、キュラソー島で設立されたファンドにはUCITSとしての資格がないため、償還を保留したり、顧客情報を第三者国の税務当局に渡す必要がありません。

オランダ領アンティル諸島の法人に対する課税は、(ヘッジ)ファンドに使用されている手段の種類によって異なります。 以下は、その(ヘッジ)ファンドが、オランダ領アンティル諸島の法人所得税および(適用される場合は)租税条約目的での、オランダ領アンティル諸島の居住者の場合に限定して適用されます。したがって、一定の実体要件が、オランダ領アンティル諸島において満たされなければなりません。

一定の条件下では、BV(私的有限責任会社)の免税ステータスを取得することができます。 このステータスの結果として、BV はオランダ領アンティル諸島の法人所得税の対象となりません。このようなステータスの取得には、多数の基準を満たす必要があります。

税務当局は2004年9月9日、反悪用ルールを公表しました。 これにより、最低15% の収益税の対象となっていない会社からの配当によって、ある会社が自社収益の5% を超える収益を得ている場合には、免税ステータスが剥奪されます。

利息は、オランダ領アンティル諸島の取引高税において課税範囲に考慮されていないため、利息の支払いに関しては、オランダ領アンティル諸島の取引高税の納税はありません。 また(ヘッジ)ファンドの株式発行、中期債の譲渡、あるいは(もしもあれば)債務証券下での元金またはプレミアムに関する支払いは、取引高税の対象になりません。

取引高税は通常、投資顧問/マネージャー、弁護士、および会計士に支払う料金に課せられます。 VAT(付加価値税)もオランダ領アンティル諸島の信託会社に支払われた料金に課せられます。 しかしながら、一定の条件が満たされている場合は、(ヘッジ)ファンドは取引高税が免除されます。またそのような場合には、投資顧問/マネージャー、弁護士、会計士、あるいはオランダ領アンティル諸島の信託会社に支払われた一切の料金に対して取引高税が課されません。

Karel Frielink

05
Apr 2006
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THE INCORPORATION OF A NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Formation and articles of association

For the formation of an NV (public limited liability company) or BV (private limited liability company) and for any amendment of articles of association a notarial deed is required. However, the formation can take place quickly (within hours if necessary) and without many other formalities. For the formation, no ‘certificate of no objection’ is required.

The founders of the NV or BV determine the choice of the language in which the deed is drawn up, as long as the civil-law notary understands the language in question. It is not required that the notary also speaks …
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03
Apr 2006
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PROFIT RIGHTS UNDER NETHERLANDS ANTILLES LAW

It is not necessary that a share shares in the profits of a company

It is not necessary to give all shares a right to share in the profits. If shares have a par value, it is obvious that the right to share in the profits is related to that value. If there are shares with different par values, the articles of association will have to contain a provision dealing with each right to share in the profits. Besides shareholders, others may also be entitled to the profits, for example holders of profit-sharing certificates.

The general main rule is that …
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30
Mar 2006
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THE CAPITAL STRUCTURE OF NETHERLANDS ANTILLES COMPANIES

No minimum capital is required

Concepts like registered, subscribed and contributed capital do not occur in the Netherlands Antilles Corporate Act. Therefore, no minimum capital is required, unless such a requirement is included in the articles of association. There can be voting shares, non-voting shares and shares with restricted voting rights. Shares can have a par value. If shares have a par value, this may differ per category of shares. Also, the par value can be expressed in one or more foreign currencies.

There are only two formal restrictions: the equity of the public limited liability company (‘NV’) or private …
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27
Mar 2006
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