Structure of an offshore company

//

Memorandum and Articles of Association

Every IBC files a copy of its Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, or "M&A" with the Registrar of Companies upon incorporation. These documents can be brief or very detailed, this depends on the law in the particular jurisdiction and on the practices of the particular incorporation agent. In these documents general information about the company is laid out. Usually these documents describe the type of company, its address, operational objects, authorised capital, the procedure for appointing and dismissing directors and officers and their scope of competence and responsibility, the procedure of share allocation, how shareholder`s meetings are called and the competence of such meetings and how it should be executed, the procedures of keeping accounts, liquidation and similar administrative matters that are characteristic to any corporate entity. The Memorandum and Articles of an offshore company are usually signed by a person called "Subscriber" or "Incorporator". The Subscriber is simply a person (or, more often, a dedicated offshore services firm) closely associated with your offshore service provider. The Subscriber essentially incorporates the company for you and acts as the first shareholder on your behalf. Otherwise you would have to travel to the offshore jurisdiction and sign the documentation personally. The Subscriber usually subscribes for the legally acceptable minimum amount of shares in the company. After the registration of the company, the initial Subscriber may remain registered on public file as the (nominee) shareholder, or the minimum amount of shares that he initially holds can be transferred to the actual client.