The British Virgin Islands have also implemented a number of tax information exchange agreements with different jurisdictions and as such, information may be shared at the regulatory level in accordance with FATF-compliant AML legislation or TIEA for the purposes for which they were designed. This eventually caught the attention of the U.S. government, which set up company BVI unilaterally withdrew the treaty in 1981. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies looking to incorporate on the islands, and incorporation costs now generate about 51.4% of government revenue. According to official statistics, 447,801 companies were “active” in the British Virgin Islands as of June 30, 2012.
It provides investors with access to the type of “buy” investment strategy typically limited to private equity funds, while at the same time providing a degree of liquidity in the sense that SPAC shares are publicly traded. Accordingly, compliance with applicable regulations in an offshore jurisdiction such as the British Virgin Islands will not exclude a company from a regulatory compliance action in another jurisdiction in which it makes its services available to customers. Appropriate advice should always be sought in accordance with the laws of such jurisdictions.
British Virgin Islands law recognizes “foreign” legal transactions and security documents. The British Virgin Islands also have the most developed insolvency system in the offshore world, which is very beneficial for secured creditors and, while not usually an important consideration for businesses, is attractive to lenders. Company law in the British Virgin Islands is intended to provide maximum flexibility with the legal frameworks of customary law. Companies can perform any legal act or move, and there are no injuries related to business benefit. The creation of a modern, flexible and commercially minded offshore company in the British Virgin Islands ensures that business exchanges continue with higher productivity, reliable with legal frameworks of common law.
International Financial Centers (“IFCs”), also known as offshore financial centers, are a well-known part of the global financial system. IFCs facilitate capital flows to developed and emerging economies by providing a platform to attract funding, act as efficient portals for collective investment, and provide profitable and well-understood business vehicles for cross-border transactions and investments. British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) companies do not add additional tax layers to the taxes that investors already pay in their home countries, creating a level playing field for investors from all jurisdictions. This article focuses on the benefits of using businesses in the British Virgin Islands and their positive impact on the cost of agreements, and the cost and convenience of continued maintenance and governance. The British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) is one of the most popular offshore jurisdictions for setting up trusts and entities, with an English common law framework and modern and flexible corporate law.
The most important of these is the formation and regulation of offshore investment funds. The flexible legislative regime in the British Virgin Islands is one of the main reasons why it is often chosen as a jurisdiction for investment managers to set up their fund vehicles. Currently, there are more than 2,200 regulated funds and almost certainly a similar number of unregulated fund vehicles based in the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands have three key characteristics that investors are looking for, namely political stability, an efficient and reliable legal system, and experienced industry professionals on the ground. The British Virgin Islands is one of the best options for companies and investors who want to establish themselves offshore in the most reputable offshore locations.