|
CORPORATE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES IN SEYCHELLES
A. DOMESTIC SEYCHELLES COMPANY
| 1. |
This is a company incorporated under Seychelles Companies Act 1972 and carries on
business in the Seychelles. |
|
| 2. |
Can acquire property in its own name. |
|
| 3. |
If any director or shareholder is a foreigner, they must obtain sanction in terms of the
Immovable Property Transfer Restriction Act. |
NOTE: SANCTION IS A MULTI LAYERED PROCESS
| |
a. |
Firstly, obtain the usual sanction documents in respect of the purchasing
entity, i.e. the Seychelles company. |
|
| |
b. |
Secondly obtain the sanction documents in respect of the shareholders of the Seychelles company. |
|
| |
|
i. |
Where the shareholders are natural persons, obtain the usual sanction
documents for natural persons. |
| |
| |
|
ii. |
Where the shareholder is another legal entity, obtain the sanction
documents in respect of such legal entity and its ultimate beneficiaries. |
B. DOMESTIC OVERSEAS COMPANY
| 1. |
This is a company incorporated in accordance with the laws of a country other than
the Seychelles - e.g. a company incorporated under the laws of South Africa,
Mauritius, Italy etc. It is not what is commonly referred to as an offshore company. |
| |
| 2. |
A Domestic Overseas Company can acquire property in its own name. |
| |
| 3. |
It is regarded as a foreigner and sanction is required in terms of the Immovable
Property Transfer Restriction Act. |
|
| |
a. |
Firstly, obtain the usual sanction documents in respect of the purchasing
entity, i.e. the Overseas company. |
| |
| |
b. |
Secondly obtain the sanction documents in respect of the shareholders of the
Overseas company. |
|
| |
|
i. |
Where the shareholders are natural persons, obtain the usual sanction
documents for natural persons. |
| |
| |
|
ii. |
Where the shareholder is another legal entity, obtain the sanction
documents in respect of such legal entity and its ultimate beneficiaries. |
| |
| 4. |
In addition, this company must also file its particulars with the Registrar of Companies
in Seychelles before sanction will be approved. (See below re-filing of particulars) |
C. OFFSHORE COMPANY
| 1. |
This is a company that does not carry on business in the jurisdiction where it was
incorporated, but operates offshore, e.g. IBC (International Business Company or BVI
type company). |
| |
| 2. |
It cannot own property in its own name on Eden Island in the Seychelles.
The vehicle of ownership will be the local domestic Seychelles company and the
offshore company can be one of the shareholders in the local domestic company. |
| |
| 3. |
This company is regarded as a foreigner and sanction will be required in terms of the
Immovable Property Transfer Restriction Act. |
|
| |
a. |
Firstly, obtain the usual sanction documents in respect of the purchasing
entity, i.e. the Seychelles company. |
| |
| |
b. |
Secondly obtain the sanction documents in respect of the shareholders of the
Seychelles company.
In respect of the offshore company who will be one of the shareholders, you
need to obtain the usual company documents, i.e. memo & articles,
certificate of incorporation, details of directors etc. as well as a certificate of
good standing and a due diligence report.
It is not necessary to obtain any documents in respect of the ultimate
beneficiaries of the offshore company. |
|
| |
|
NOTE: Due to the fact that the beneficial owners are not disclosed, this may impact
on the right of the beneficial owners to obtain residency permits. Where an offshore
structure is used and the company has no objection to declare who the beneficial
owners are, such beneficial owners (it is understood) will be entitled to apply for
residency permits if they so require. |
| |
| 4. |
No filing of particulars is required in respect of the offshore company. |
REGISTRATION (FILING) OF PARTICULARS OF OVERSEAS COMPANIES
In order for companies registered in other jurisdictions in the world than the Seychelles to
have the power to own land in the Seychelles as if they were locally registered Seychelles
companies, they must comply with the requirements of Section 310 of the Companies Act
1972 of the Republic of Seychelles ("the Act") with regards to the registration of required
documents and particulars.
Thereafter, such overseas companies will be deemed to be registered in the Seychelles but
governed by the overseas laws of the country of its incorporation.
| 1. |
In terms of Section 310, overseas companies (intending to purchase any property in the
Seychelles) must deliver to the Registrar for registration, a certified copy of the original: |
|
| 1.1 |
the charter, or |
|
| 1.2 |
the statutes, or |
|
| 1.3 |
memorandum and articles of association of the company, or |
|
| 1.4 |
certificate of incorporation of the company, or |
| 1.5 |
any other instrument which constitutes the overseas company or contains the
regulations which govern it. (If the instrument is not written in English, a certified
copy thereof in English must be provided); |
|
| 2. |
a list of the directors and secretary of the company; |
|
| 3. |
the name of the person or persons who have been appointed to be the managing
agent or agents, of the overseas company in the Seychelles which person will have the
powers of a managing director of the company in the Seychelles; (With regard to the
powers of the managing agent appointed, Kieran confirms that he will have the same
powers as a MD usually/ normally would have had, subject to these powers being
limited to transactions effected in the Seychelles.
It will therefore be very important that the purchasers exercise careful consideration
when they appoint a managing agent in the Seychelles.) |
|
| 4. |
the names of two or more persons in the Seychelles who have been appointed to
accept on behalf of the company service of process and any notices required to be
served on the overseas company; |
|
| 5. |
the particulars of persons mentioned in 2, 3 and 4 (above) shall be: |
|
| 5.1 |
with respect to each individual who is a director, managing agent in the Seychelles
or person appointed to accept service on behalf of the overseas company in the
Seychelles: |
|
| 5.1.1 |
- his/her present Christian name and surname and any former Christian
name and surname |
|
| 5.1.2 |
- his/her usual residential address |
|
| 5.1.3 |
- his/her nationality |
|
| 5.1.4 |
- his/her business occupation (if any) |
|
| 5.1.5 |
- if he/she has no business occupation but holds directorship or directorships,
then those particulars; |
|
| 5.2 |
with respect to a company, body corporate or firm which is a director, managing
agent or person appointed to accept service on behalf of the overseas company
in the Seychelles: |
|
| 5.2.1 |
- its corporate or firm name |
|
| 5.2.2 |
- the country where it was formed or incorporated |
|
| 5.2.3 |
- its registered office (if any) |
|
| 5.2.4 |
- its principal place of business in the Seychelles (if any); |
|
| 5.3 |
with respect to the secretary of the overseas company or, where there are joint
secretaries, with respect to each of them: |
|
| 5.3.1 |
- in the case of an individual: |
|
| 5.3.1.1 |
his/her present and any former Christian name and surname |
|
| 5.3.1.2 |
his/her usual residential address |
|
| 5.3.2 |
- in the case of a company or body corporate or firm, |
|
| 5.3.2.1 |
the firm’s name |
|
| 5.3.2.2 |
its registered office (if any) |
|
| 5.3.2.3 |
its principal place of business in the Seychelles (if any). |
|
| 6. |
Any of the persons appointed for the purposes mentioned in points 3 and 4 (above)
may be an individual or a firm resident or carrying on business in the Seychelles or a
company formed and incorporated in the Seychelles. |
|
| 7. |
Potential purchases should also be aware that there are registration charges and fees
for registering an overseas company. Disbursements of approximate US$ 600 (six
hundred) together with a fee that should be agreed with the service provider attending
thereto, which should bring the total amount to about US$ 1500 (one thousand five
hundred) all inclusive. The annual administration fee should also be agreed to up front
with the service provider. |
|
| 8. |
Annual statutory tax returns for all income received from the Seychelles must be filed for
this company, in the Seychelles, even if it is a nil tax return. |
|
| 9. |
The Registrar of Companies (Seychelles) must be advised of any change of the
company's directors. |
Download this document as a PDF.
This document is produced for information and guidance purposes only and Purchasers should seek their own
independent advice to address and suit their own specific circumstances
|
|
Contact Our Sales Agents now
|