The Bahamas

A state situated on islands of the Bahaman archipelago in Atlantic Ocean. It includes 700 islands, territory - 11404 sq. km., population - 300 000, official language - English. National currency - the Bahaman dollar (it is equal to the American dollar).

Geographical location

Corporative legislation The act of International Business companies 1989, amended on 1992, 1994 and 2000
Form of tax-exempted company International Business Company (IBC), hereinafter - Company
Authorized business activities All and any activities not prohibited by the law
Providing of banking, insurance and re-insurance, trust services is subject to special license
Prohibited activities To carry out transactions with residents of Bahamas, to own real estate in territory of Bahamas
Name of company Should not be identical or confusingly similar on already existing ones
The name must contain words Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Societe Anonyme, Sociedad Anonima, Gesellschaft mit beschankter Haftung or abbreviations Ltd., Corp., Inc., GmbH, SA
Words Assurance, Bank, Building Society, Chamber of Commerce, Chartered, Cooperative, Imperial, Insurance, Municipal, Royal, Trust Company, Trustee Company or other words or word-combinations having the same value cannot be used in name of the IBC company
Taxation Company is exempted from all and any taxes and duties
Equity capital of the company Equity capital of the company is declared, there are no requirements about obligatory payment and establishment of the minimal/maximal amount of statute capital
Recommended equity capital 5000 USD, divided into 5000 shares with par value 1 USD
Shares Release of only registered shares is allowed
Shareholders
- Minimum number
- Nominal shareholders
- Holders of trust equities

Two, natural or legal entities
Permitted
Permitted
Does the law provide for non-disclosure of the information about actual owner of the company
Yes, the real owner of the company is not registered on Bahamas
Directors
- minimum number
- nationality and citizenship
- status

Two (physical or legal entities)
There are no requirements
All rights, except for shareholders taking place in the exclusive competence (determined by the memorandum, the statute and-or the law)
On the territory of Bahamas there has to be:
- registered office
- registered agent

Required
Required
Holding of the meeting of shareholders/directors Meetings may be hold in any part of the world one time in the year
Minutes may be kept at any place
Mandatory
- keeping of accounting records
- annual account
- presentation of auditor's conclusion

No
No
No
Information at disposal to the third party The memorandum of incorporation, the Articles of Association, the name of the registration agent and registration office
The documents kept at registration office The register of shareholders and directors, print of a seal
Agreements on exemption from double taxation None
Currency control No
Term of incorporation 3 weeks
Financial year ending on Look for: Annual support of companies
Costs of registration of company Look for: Costs of registration and service
Possibility to purchase a ready-made company Yes, look for: Ready made companies