NEVIS CORPORATIONS

Longitude and is located in the Leeward Islands approximately 2,000 km southeast of Miami. Mount Nevis lies in the centre of the 92 sq km Island and towers 985 metres. Columbus sighted and named the Island on his second voyage in 1493. The climate is nearly perfect and the variation in altitude and soil conditions creates a natural garden of tropical vegetation ranging from rain to near desert.

Corporate features

GENERAL
Type of Company NBCO
Political Stability Good
Common or Civil Law Common
Disclosure of Beneficial Owner No
Migration of Domicile Permitted Yes
Tax on Offshore Profits Nil
Language of Name Latin Alphabet
CORPORATE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Number of Shareholders One
Minimum Number of Directors One
Bearer Shares Allowed Yes
Corporate Directors Permitted Yes
Company Secretary Required Yes
Standard Authorised Share Capital No
LOCAL REQUIREMENTS
Registered Office/Agent Agent only
Company Secretary No
Local Directors No
Local Meetings No
Government Register of Directors No
Government Register of Shareholders No
ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS
Annual Return No
Submit Accounts No

Advantages
Total tax exemption provided by law for NBCO companies. Legislation based on US Delaware Law with English conventions permitted.

Disadvantages
Proof of beneficial ownership or management is difficult for lack of public disclosure requirement however law does provide for the voluntary disclosure of information.

Company law
Common law based on English Common Law. Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance in 1984.

COMPANY FORMATION

Type of company for international trade and investment
Offshore Exempt Company (NBCO).

Procedure to incorporate
By submission of the Articles of Incorporation to the Registrar of Companies, together with the appropriate fee.

Restrictions on trading
A Nevis Company incorporated under the Business Corporation Ordinance 1984 may not trade within Nevis, or own real estate there. A company incorporated under the said Act may not engage in the business of banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, collective investment schemes or any other activity that would suggest an association with the banking or Insurance industries.

Powers of company
A company incorporated in Nevis has the same powers as a natural person.

Language of legislation and corporate documents: English

Name approval required: Yes

Shelf companies available: Yes

Time to incorporate
One day

Name restrictions
Any name that is identical to or similar to an existing company. Any name that in the opinion of the Registrar is undesirable or suggests an illegal activity or any name that may imply government patronage.

Language of name
May be in any language that uses the Latin alphabet. The Registrar may request an English translation if a foreign language name is used.

Classes of shares permitted
Registered shares, bearer shares, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without par value.

Bearer shares permitted: Yes

Taxation
A Nevis offshore exempt company is exempt from local taxation.

Double taxation agreements
Although Nevis does have double tax agreements, a company incorporated under the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance 1984 cannot obtain any treaty relief through them.

Financial statement requirements
Whilst there is no requirement to submit or file audited financial statements, a Nevis company is required to maintain financial records to reflect the financial position of the company.

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