One of the many flexible features of the BVI Business Companies Act 2004 (the BC Act) is the ability both to continue a foreign company as a BVI company under the BC Act and also to continue a BVI company under the laws of another jurisdiction (commonly referred to, respectively, as a continuation and a discontinuation or continuation out). This guide provides a brief overview of the process and requirements for continuations and discontinuations.

General requirements to continue in the BVI

Broadly, to continue as a BVI company a foreign company must:

  • be permitted to continue in the BVI under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation (the Old Jurisdiction), and
  • not (a) be in, or be the subject of any undetermined court application for, liquidation or equivalent insolvency proceedings in any other jurisdiction; (b) have a receiver or manager appointed in relation to any of its assets; or (c) have entered into an arrangement with creditors that has not been concluded

An application is then filed in the BVI, together with supporting documents (including evidence of approval of both the continuation and also the company's new memorandum and articles of association (MAA)). These must be approved (a) by a majority of directors or persons exercising the powers of the company or (b) in the manner established for exercise of the company's powers.

If satisfied, the BVI Registrar of Corporate Affairs (the Registrar) shall issue a certificate of continuation confirming the incorporation of the company under the BC Act. However, the Registrar may refuse any continuation she believes would be contrary to the public interest.

General requirements to continue out

Broadly, in order to continue out a BVI company must:

  • be in good standing (that is, up-to-date with government fees and not struck-off)
  • be permitted to continue out under its MAA
  • subject to any specific approvals required under its MAA, resolve to continue out by a board or shareholder resolution, and
  • file a declaration, via its BVI registered agent, confirming that the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction (the New Jurisdiction) permit the continuation and that the company has complied with them

If satisfied these requirements have been complied with, the Registrar will issue a certificate of discontinuance, following which the company will be struck-off in the BVI and ceases to be a company under the BC Act.

Practical considerations

In practice, BVI counsel will need to consider the requirements of the Old or New Jurisdiction (as applicable) in advance with overseas counsel. For example, the laws of that jurisdiction may impose additional legal formalities (such as a BVI legal opinion). On a continuation in the BVI, the Registrar may rely on a formal director's certificate to satisfy herself that the BVI requirements have been met but this must be duly legalised under, and include an extract of, the relevant laws of the Old Jurisdiction. On a continuation out of the BVI, the Registrar must be provided with proof that the company has complied with the laws of the New Jurisdiction and, whilst this is often in the form of a certificate of registration, or equivalent document, the Registrar may also rely on a provisional certificate of continuance to allow her to issue the BVI certificate of discontinuance.

The timings of the various filings will also need to be carefully co-ordinated. In particular, it is usually desirable to ensure "same-day" treatment of the continuation or discontinuation (to avoid the company's existing at the same time under two different company laws and any resulting conflicts of laws or other issues).

Discontinuations – declaration regarding registered security interests

On a discontinuation, if a charge or other security interest (a charge) is registered publicly in the BVI in respect of the company's property which has not been released or satisfied, it must first make a written declaration to the Registrar. The declaration must state either:

  • that a notice of satisfaction or release has been filed and registered in respect of the charge
  • if such a notice has not been filed and registered, that the holder of the charge (the chargee) has been notified in writing of the intention to discontinue and has consented or not objected
  • if the chargee has not so consented or has objected following notice, that the chargee's interest secured by the charge shall not be diminished or compromised by the discontinuation and, broadly, will continue to be a liability recognised under the relevant provisions of the BC Act (see below)

Effect of continuations and discontinuations

Broadly, under the BC Act, the effect of a continuation or discontinuation is as neutral and seamless as possible and the relevant company is regarded as one and the same legal entity. From the date of continuation in the BVI, a company is subject to the BC Act and its new MAA and, under BVI law, is no longer treated as incorporated in the Old Jurisdiction. On a discontinuation, from a BVI law perspective, a company will not cease to be subject to BVI law until a certificate of discontinuance is issued.

Broadly, the BC Act provides that (a) the company continues to be liable for all of its obligations that existed prior to its continuation or discontinuation; (b) the continuation or discontinuation does not impair or release any such liabilities or obligations or any judgments or claims against the company; and (c) any pending or actual proceedings by or against the company remain unaltered.

It should be noted that, in the case of a BVI company that has been discontinued, service of process may continue to be effected on its BVI registered agent in respect of any claim, debt, liability or obligation of the company during the period of its existence under the BC Act.

Conclusion

The BVI is the world's leading incorporation jurisdiction due to the clarity and flexibility of its company law. The ability to continue a foreign company as a BVI company or to continue a BVI company as a company under the laws of another jurisdiction quickly and seamlessly is just one example of this flexibility and is particularly useful in the context of corporate reorganisations.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.