Companies
Starting any type of mercantile business implies satisfying a series of requirements established by the law and other legal systems that will allow you to manage your activities with legal normality.
We are pioneers in the incorporation of companies in Panama for natural persons and foreign companies that wants to commercially establish in our country.
Benefits of a Panamanian Corporation
- Panama does not impose taxes on any income or dividends generated by sources outside the country, even if the operations are handled from offices established in Panama. The corporation which does not carry out business in Panama, or which operates outside of Panama from an office located in Panama is not obliged to file an Income Tax Return form.
- Panama Offshore has no exchange control nor currency restrictions. The Balboa is the legal currency which has the same value as the United States Dollar. The United States Dollar is also used as legal tender.
- Panama companies do not impose any sanctions nor restrictions upon income accumulated by a corporation which does not carry out business in Panama, therefore, the payment of dividends may be delayed for an indefinite time.
- Panama Corporations Law (Law No. 32 of 1927) is ample and flexible. No significant amendments had been made to this law since its adoption.
- Panama has excellent facilities, air and maritime services.
- The banking facilities offered in Panama are, among others, as follows:
- ScotiaBank
- Bac Panama
- Banco General
- Credicorp Bank.
| Incorporation in 48 hours | Preparation of powers of attorney |
| Provision of registered offices | Assistance in opening bank accounts |
| Acting as registered agent | Provision of nominee director services |
| Maintenance of books and records | Procurement of certified documents |
| Preparation of minutes | Mail forwarding services |
Notwithstanding, monies may be kept in any bank within or without the Republic of Panama.
Benefits of Incorporation of a Limited Liability Partnership (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada)
Limited Liability Partnerhsip - LLC PANAMA
Introduction
There is a business entity under Panama law which could be referred to in English as a Limited Liability Partnership (“Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada”). This entity is governed by Law No. 24 of 1966 (the “Limited Liability Partnership Law”).
Procedures
Limited liability partnerships are required to have at least 2 partnenrs and can have not more than 20. All the partners or their attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be are required to execute the partnership agreement.
Regarding the manner of execution of the partnership agreement, the law requires that this be done before a Notary Public. In essence, this means either a Notary Public in Panama or a Panama Consul abroad, who has notarial functions. I would assume that it would be preferred that the partners would prefer not to come to Panama for that purpose. Also, given the technicalities, we would not recommend doing this before a Consul. It would therefore seem to us more practical if the partners could grant powers of attorney in favour of persons from this office, whereupon we would proceed with the execution of the partnership agreement and the necessary fillings.
Legal status
Limited liability partnerships are juridical persons different from its partners, which come into existence upon the recordation of their Partnership Agreement in the Panama Public Registryu and a publication of a notice in a local newspaper.
The Limited Liability Partnership Law is rather detailed and somewhat complex, but for purposes of the present discussion, perhaps the most salient characteristics of a Limited Liability Partnership would be as follows:
(a) Partners
The Limited Liability Partnership Law provides that the maximum number of partners shall be twenty, and seems to suggest, although this is not altogether clear, that the partners must be natural persons. This requirement was changed by Decree Law No. 5 of 1997 and therefore all or some of the partners may be corporate bodies.
In our opinion, the use of special purpose corporations to act as partners would protect the assets of the parent company from creditors of the partnership.
The names of the partners and their partnership interest (quotas) should be stated in the Partnership Agreement as registered at the Public Registry, and any transfer of interest should also be registered at the Public Registry. The identity of the partners is therefore a matter of public knowledge.
(b) Capital
The Limited Liability Partnership Law provides that the capital of the partnership shall be expressed in Balboas, the Panama currency, (its value mirrors that of the US$) and shall not be less than the equivalent of US$2,000 nor greater than the equivalent of US$500,000, represented in a number of quotas of the value of the equivalent of US$100 or multiples thereof. At the time of the constitution of the Limited Liability Partnership, at least 50% should be paid in. Which may be stated in the Partenrship Agreement, or to the total net assets of the entity. The position which we have taken in the past is the former, that is to say, that this provision refers to the maximum stated capital in the Partenrship Agreement, regardless of whether the net assets are greater, and that therefore there may be a capital surplus in excess of US$500,000.
The law further provides that when it is deemed convenient that the number of partners be greater than twenty (20) or that the capital be greater that US$500,000, the sociedad de responsabilidad limitada should be converted into a corporation.
(c) Administration
Partners Meetings
Where the number of partners is greater than five, the partnership should hold partners meetings at least once a year. Otherwise, partners may be consulted by cable or registered letter or may adopt their decisions in writing in lieu of a meeting.
The powers of the partners are as follows:
(i) To amend the Partenrship Agreement
(ii) To approve the accounts, the report of the administrators and the distribution of profits as proposed by the administrators.
(iii) To resolve on actions against the administrators and other partners for damages caused to the partnership.
(iv) The appointment and removal of administrators.
(v) The appointment of advisors and special attorneys-in-fact.
(vi) To decide on the dissolution, merger and transformation of the partnership.
Administrators
The partnership shall be managed and represented by one or more administrators, who may but need not be partners, who may be natural or juridical persons.
Where more than one, the administrators have the power to act severally. However, where the Partenrship Agreement requires that they should act jointly, they should so act, except where a delay could prejudice the partnership. The administrators require special authorization from the partners to carry out acts beyond the normal course of business, to transfer assets, and to encumber assets to secure debts of the partnership.
(d) Time
A Limited Liability Partnership could be registered in about fifteen days from the time that the terms of the Partenrship Agreement are agreed upon and and the appropirate Notarial Instrument has been executed.
