If you have read this far, it means that
you are now convinced that a Panama Corporation is for you, and you are
ready to incorporate. Now it is just a matter of clicking on "Order
Now" and completing an online order form. Read the simple procedures
below to establish a Panama Corporation.
1. Personal Information: Complete
the online application
with your personal contact details.
2. Indicate what type of entity(s) you
want: Indicate whether you want a new Panama corporation or a Panama
shelf corporation. If you choose to purchase a shelf corporation, then you
will be issued the first available shelf company, and you can skip the
name section of the online application. Also, indicate how many
corporations you want of each type.
3. Selecting the Name(s): On the
online application,
you should indicate three name choices for each corporation. Panama
Corporations names can be in any language and must include one of the
following corporate suffixes:
· Inc.
· Incorporated
· Corp.
· Corporation
· S.A.
Note: For your information, "S.A." in
Spanish means "Sociedad Anonima", or "Anonymous Society". This is just
another form of saying "Corp." or "Inc." in Spanish.
Once you have submitted the
online application
including the name(s) for your corporation(s), we will check to see if the
names you selected are available in the Panamanian Public Registry. We can
have this done within a few hours. The first available name selections
will be incorporated as soon as we have received payment.
4. Directors: On the
online application,
you should indicate who you want to appoint as directors of your
corporation(s). Every Panama corporation requires 3 directors/officers
(President, Secretary and Treasurer). The directors/officers can be either
individuals or entities.
If our client is appointed as director on
the corporation, then his/her name is publicly known as director since the
directors names and identifications must be presented in the public
registry when the corporation is formed. Generally, the only documentation
on public record is the deed (or articles) of incorporation and the names
and addresses of the directors/officers and Registered Agent.
We offer our clients the optional service
of using our "Nominee Directors" for their corporation(s). For purposes of
confidentiality, most of our clients prefer that we provide nominee
directors/officers for their corporations. When we appoint nominee
directors for the entities that we establish for our clients, we always
provide our clients with pre-signed, undated letters of resignation from
the directors so that our client can replace those directors at any time.
There is no additional fee for the use of our nominee directors.
Otherwise, if clients prefer to appoint
their own directors, they simply complete our online application with the
names of the directors that they wish to use (they also must send us a
photocopy of their directors passports).
5. Share Certificates: On the
online application,
clients should inform us as to how they wish to have their corporations
share certificates issued. The shares can be issued either to "The
Bearer", or in Nominative Form (to a specific person or entity). The
beneficial owners of the corporation are not required to be recorded in
the Public Registry.
The shareholders can be anonymous. In
other words, the shares can be issued to "The Bearer", meaning that the
shares are like cash, and can be passed from one bearer/owner to another
bearer/owner by a physical certificate without re-registering the shares
through a registered agent. This is a very anonymous and confidential form
of ownership, and is another reason why Panama is one of the most popular
jurisdictions to incorporate.
Note: If clients do not indicate their
preference for share certificates, then the corporation will be created
with the share certificates issued to "The Bearer".
6. Payment: On the
online application,
you should indicate your preferred method of payment. Payment can be made
by Bank Wire Transfer, Western Union Cash Transfer, E-gold, USD Check, or
USD International Money Order. For fastest processing, we highly recommend
paying by Bank Wire Transfer, Western Union, or E-Gold. Checks and
International Money Orders take two to three weeks to clear, and we do not
begin processing until payment has cleared. After submitting the online
application, you will be contacted by our service staff and will be
provided with payment instructions.
7. Time Frame: A new corporation
can be established within 3 to 5 business days. Shelf corporations are
also available if you need a corporation immediately. Shelf corporations
are the same, except that they have already been incorporated and are
ready to engage in business immediately if you are in a rush to do
business very quickly. Simply notify us on the online order form if you
prefer a shelf name and we will provide one for you.
|
Description of Service |
Fee
|
|
INCORPORATIONS, TRANSFERS or RE-DOMICILES |
|
|
Panama Corporation
Package (New) |
US$1000 |
|
Panama Private Interest Foundation Package
(New) |
US$1000 |
|
Panama Corporation Package (shelf) |
US$1200 |
|
Panama Private Interest Foundation Package
(shelf) |
US$1200 |
|
Transfer of Panama entity to our Registered Agent/Office |
US$1000 |
|
Re-domicile of entity to Panama & our Registered Agent/Off. |
US$1000 |
Nevada (USA)
Corporation Package
|
US$1500 |
|
Delaware (USA) Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
|
Belize Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
|
Costa Rica Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
| BVI
(British Virgin Islands) Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
|
Bahamas Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
|
Cayman Islands Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
| St.
Vincent Corporation Package |
US$1500 |
|
Antigua Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Barbados Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Aruba Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Uruguay Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Paraguay Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Isle of Man Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Channel Islands Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Niue Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Hong Kong Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Singapore Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
Ireland IBC Package |
contact us |
|
United Kingdom Corporation Package |
contact us |
|
ANNUAL FEES |
|
Annual Renewal Fee
per entity (Panama) |
US$450/yr |
|
Annual Government Corporate Franchise Tax per entity (Panama)
|
US$250/yr |
|
Annual Government Late Fee for Corporate Franchise Tax (Panama) |
US$ 50/yr |
|
CORPORATE SERVICES |
|
Corporate name
verification in Panama public registry |
Free |
|
Corporate Seal
(Rubber) |
US$50 |
|
Corporate Seal
(Metal) |
US$90 |
|
Service fee for
payment of tax (Panama) |
US$30 |
|
Change of Directors
or Officers (Panama) |
US$350 |
|
Issuance of new
share certificates |
US$150 |
|
Change of
Corporation or Foundation Name (Panama) |
US$350 |
|
Panama Nominee
Directors Service |
Included |
|
Corporate Mail
Forwarding Service - annual fee |
US$300/yr |
|
Courier
shipping/handling fee per package |
US$50 |
|
Post mail
shipping/handling fee per package |
US$10 |
|
Faxed document
forwarding service |
Varies |
|
Scanned document w/
email attachment forwarding service |
US$5/pg |
|
Corporate Virtual
Office Services |
contact us |
|
Appostile of
Document (Panama) |
US$50 |
|
Notary of Document
(Panama) |
US$25 |
|
Certificate of
Incorporation (Panama) |
US$75 |
|
Commercial Business
License (Panama) |
US$600 |
|
Legal Consulting
|
US$100/hr |
|
Certified
Translation of Documents (English) |
US$25/pg |
|
Directors
Signatures on Documents |
US$20/sig. |
| |
|
|
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS |
|
Financial Account
opening assistance through any of our recommended financial
institutions.
|
US$500 - 700 |
| |
|
|
CONTRACTS & CORPORATE FORMS |
|
Investment Advisor Contract |
US$250 |
|
General Manager Contract |
US$250 |
|
Independent Contractor Contract |
US$250 |
|
Private Annuity Contract |
US$250 |
|
Mortgage Contract |
US$250 |
|
Loan Contract |
US$250 |
| Buy
/ Sell Contract |
US$250 |
|
Foundation Donation Forms |
US$50 |
|
Foundation Letter of Wishes Drafting (tailored) |
US$250 |
|
Foundation Reglament Drafting (with notarization) |
US$350 |
| |
|
|
PANAMA REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS |
|
Complete Buy/Sell Legal Service Package |
US$1200 |
|
Property Title Search Service |
US$500 |
|
Promise to Purchase Contract & Registration |
US$750 |
| Buy
/ Sell Contract & Registration |
US$1000 |
|
Escrow Services |
contact us |
|
MARINE YACHT / SHIP / VESSEL REGISTRATIONS
(Panama) |
|
Marine yacht / ship / vessel registration |
contact us |
| |
|
* Note the above prices are subject to change without prior
notification.
E.
Panama Corporations Law
Business people, investors and others
using the Panamanian jurisdiction, will discover that Panama provides the
best infrastructure and legal environment in the world to achieve their
business, financial, estate, or asset protection objectives from a
strategically located, reputable international banking and financial
center.
General Corporation Law
Law 32 of February 26, 1927
(Official Gazette No. 5067 of March 16, 1927)
The National Assembly of Panama
HEREBY DECREES:
CHAPTER I: Incorporation
ARTICLE 1. Two or more persons of lawful
age, of any nationality even though not domiciled in the Republic of
Panama may, in accordance with the formalities hereinafter provided, form
a corporation for any lawful purpose or purposes.
ARTICLE 2. Such persons desiring to form
such a corporation shall sign articles of incorporation which shall set
forth:
1. The names and domiciles of each of the
subscribers of the articles;
2. The name of the corporation which will
not be the same as or similar to that of another, already existing
corporation so as to cause confusion.
The name shall include a word, phrase or
abbreviation, indicating that it is a corporation, as distinguished from a
person or an association of another type.
The name of the corporation may be
expressed in any language.
3. The general purpose or purposes of the
corporation;
4. The amount of the capital stock and
the number and par value of the shares of which it is to be divided; and,
if the corporation is to issue shares without par value, the statements
required by Article 22 of this law;
The capital stock and par value of shares
of any corporation may be expressed in terms of the legal currency of the
Republic or of gold units of the legal currency of any other country, or
in both;
5. If there are to be shares of different
classes, the number of shares to be included in each class and the
designations, preferences, privileges and voting rights or restrictions or
other qualifications of the shares of each class; or a statement that such
designations, preferences, privileges and voting powers or restrictions or
other qualifications can be determined by resolution of the majority in
interest of the Stockholders or of the majority of the Directors;
6. The number of shares of stock which
each subscriber of the articles of incorporation agrees to take;
7. The domicile of the corporation and
the name and domicile of its resident agent in the Republic, who may be a
person or corporation;
8. Its duration;
9. The number, names and addresses of its
Directors, of which shall not be less than three;
10. Any other lawful provisions which the
subscribers of the articles of incorporation may desire to include.
ARTICLE 3. The articles of incorporation
may be executed in any place, within or outside this Republic, and in any
language.
ARTICLE 4. The articles of incorporation
may be in the form of a public deed, or in any other form, provided that
said articles be acknowledged by a Notary Public or by any other official
authorized to make acknowledgements at the place of execution.
ARTICLE 5. If the articles of
incorporation are not in the form of a public deed, they must be protocol
zed in the office of a Notary of the Republic.
If said document should be executed
outside of the Republic of Panama, it must be authenticated by a
Panamanian Consul before it is protocol zed, or if there should be no
Panamanian Consul, by the Consul of a country friendly to Panama. If the
Articles of Incorporation are drafted in a language other than Spanish
they must be protocol zed with an authorized translation executed by an
official or public interpreter of the Republic of Panama.
ARTICLE 6. The public deed or the
protocolized document containing the articles of incorporation must be
presented for registration in the Mercantile Registry.
The incorporation of the corporation
shall not have effect as to third parties until articles of incorporation
have been registered.
ARTICLE 7. Any corporation formed under
this law may amend its articles of incorporation in any respect provided
such amendments conform to the provisions of this law.
Therefore, the corporation may, by such
amendment: change the number of its shares of stock or of any class of its
stock outstanding at the time of such amendment; change the par value of
the outstanding shares of any class having such a value; change the
outstanding shares of any class having par value into the same or
different number of shares of the same or a different class without par
value; change the outstanding shares of a class without par value into the
same or different number of shares of the same or different class having
par value; increase the amount of the number of shares of its authorized
stock; divide its authorized capital into classes; increase the number of
classes of its authorized capital; or change the designations, rights,
privileges, preferences, voting powers, restrictions or qualifications of
stock. But the capital stock of a corporation shall not be reduced except
in accordance with the provisions of articles 14 et seq. of this law.
ARTICLE 8. The amendments shall be made
by the persons designated hereinafter and in the manner provided in this
law with respect to the execution of the articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE 9. Amendments to the Articles of
Incorporation which are made before stock has been issued, shall be signed
by every subscriber of the articles of incorporation and by every
subscriber to the stock of the corporation.
ARTICLE 10. In case stock has been
issued, such amendments to the articles of incorporation shall be signed:
(a) By the holders of all the outstanding
shares of the corporation entitled to vote thereon, in person or by proxy,
and shall be accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the corporation stating that the persons who have executed
said amendments, in person or by proxy, constitute the holders of all the
outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote thereon; or
(b) By the President or a Vice-President
and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation, who shall
sign and annex thereto a certificate stating that they have been
authorized to execute said amendments by resolution adopted by the owners
or their proxy of a majority of such shares and that such resolution was
adopted at a stockholders meeting held on the date specified in the notice
or waiver of notice.
ARTICLE 11. In case that the amendments
to the Articles of Incorporation alter the preferences of outstanding
shares of any class or authorized shares having preferences which are in
any respect superior to those of outstanding shares of any class, such
certificate mentioned in Article 10 (b) shall state that the officers
signing the same have also been authorized to execute such amendments to
the Articles of Incorporation by resolution, adopted in person or by proxy
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class
entitled to vote thereon, adopted at a stockholders' meeting held on a
date specified upon notice or waiver of notice.
ARTICLE 12. If the articles of
incorporation require more than a majority of the outstanding shares of
any class or classes in order to effect any amendment of any provision of
the articles of incorporation, the certificate referred to in paragraph
(b) of article 10 shall state that such amendment has been authorized in
that manner.
ARTICLE 13. Unless the articles of
incorporation or any amendment thereof otherwise provide, in the event of
an increase of stock, each stockholder shall have a pre-emptive right to
subscribe, in proportion to the number of shares then held by him, the
shares of stock issued pursuant to such increase.
ARTICLE 14. Any corporation may reduce
its authorized capital stock by an amendment of its articles of
incorporation; but no distribution of assets may be made pursuant to any
such reduction, which will reduce the actual value of its remaining assets
to an amount less than the total amount of its debts and liabilities plus
the amount, as reduced, of its issued capital stock.
There shall be annexed to the amendment
to the articles of incorporation a certificate, issued under oath by the
President or a Vice-President and of the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, stating that no distribution of assets made or to be made
pursuant thereto will violate the provisions contained in this article.
In the absence of fraud, the judgment of
the Directors as to the value of the assets, and their determination of
debts and liabilities, shall be conclusive.
ARTICLE 15. Any corporation, unless its
articles of incorporation otherwise provide, may acquire shares of its own
stock by purchase or otherwise. If such acquisition or purchase is made
out of funds or properties other than the surplus or the net profits of
the corporation, the shares of stock so purchased or acquired shall be
canceled and the amount of issued stock of the corporation shall be
reduced accordingly; but such shares may be reissued if the authorized
capital stock shall not have been reduced by such retirement.
ARTICLE 16. Shares of its own stock
acquired by any corporation out of its surplus or net profits may be held
by such corporation, or sold or otherwise disposed of from time to time
for its corporate purposes and may be retired or reissued by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE 17. No corporation shall directly
or indirectly vote any shares of its own stock.
ARTICLE 18. No corporation shall purchase
or otherwise acquire its own stock out of fund or property other than its
surplus or net profits, if such purchase or acquisition will reduce the
actual value of its assets to an amount less than the total amount of its
debts and liabilities plus the amount of its issued capital stock so
purchased or acquired. In the absence of fraud, the judgment of the
Directors as to the value of the assets, and their determination of the
debts and liabilities, shall be conclusive.
CHAPTER II: Corporate Powers
ARTICLE 19. Every corporation organized
in accordance with this law shall have in addition to other powers
specified in this law the following powers:
1. To sue and be sued in any court;
2. To adopt and use a corporate seal and
alter the same at its convenience;
3. To acquire, purchase, hold, use and
convey real and personal property of all kinds and make and accept
pledges, leases, mortgages, liens and encumbrances of all kinds;
4. To appoint officers and agents;
5. To make contracts of all kinds;
6. To make by-laws not inconsistent with
any existing laws of the Republic or its articles of incorporation, for
the management, regulation and government of its affairs and property, the
transfer of its stock and the calling and holding of meetings of its
stockholders and directors, and for all other lawful matters;
7. To carry on business and to exercise
its powers in the Republic and foreign countries;
8. To dissolve itself or to be dissolved
in accordance with the law;
9. To borrow money and contract debts in
connection with its business or for any lawful purpose; to issue bonds,
notes, bills of exchange, debentures and other obligations and evidences
of indebtedness (which may or may not be convertible into stock of the
corporation) payable at a specified time or times or payable upon the
happening of a specified event or events whether secured by mortgage,
pledge or otherwise or unsecured for money borrowed or in payment for
property purchased or acquired or for any other lawful objects;
10. To guarantee, acquire, purchase,
hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or
deal in shares of the capital stock of, or bonds, securities or other
evidences of indebtedness created by other corporations, or of any
municipality, province, state or government.
11. To do all things necessary for the
accomplishment of the objects enumerated in its articles of incorporation
or any amendment thereof or necessary or incidental to the protection and
benefit of the corporation, and in general to carry on any lawful business
whether or not such business is similar in nature to the objects set forth
in its articles of incorporation or any amendment thereof.
CHAPTER III: Stock
ARTICLE 20. Every corporation shall have
power to create and issue one or more classes of shares of stock with such
designations, preferences, privileges, voting powers or restrictions or
qualifications thereof and other rights as its articles of incorporation
provide and subject to such rights of redemption as shall have been
reserved to the corporation in such articles of incorporation.
The articles of incorporation may provide
that shares of stock shall be convertible into the shares of other
classes.
ARTICLE 21. Shares of stock may have a
nominal or par value. Such shares may be issued as fully paid and
non-assessable, as partly paid or without any payment having been made
thereon. Unless the articles of incorporation otherwise provide, fully
paid and non-assessable shares having a par value, or securities or shares
convertible into such shares, shall not be issued for a consideration
which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, is less in value than
the par value of such shares or of the shares into which such securities
or shares are convertible. Nor shall certificates for partly paid shares
state that there has been paid thereon an amount greater than the value,
in the judgment of the Board of Directors, of the consideration actually
paid thereon. Such consideration may be money, labor, services or property
of any kind.
In the absence of fraud, the judgment of
the Board of Directors as to the value of any such consideration shall be
conclusive.
ARTICLE 22. Shares of stock may be
created and issued without par value provided the articles of
incorporation include the following statements:
1. The total number of shares that may be
issued by the corporation;
2. The number of shares, if any, with par
value and the par value of each;
3. The number of shares without par
value;
4. Either one of the following
statements:
(a) The stated capital of the corporation
shall be at least equal to the sum of the aggregate par value of all
issued shares having par value plus a certain determined amount in respect
to every issued share without par value plus such amounts as from time to
time by resolution of the Board of Directors may be transferred thereto;
or
(b) The stated capital of the corporation
shall be at least equal to the sum of the aggregate par value of all
issued shares having par value plus the aggregate amount of consideration
received by the corporation for the issuance of shares without par value,
plus such amounts as from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors may be transferred thereto.
There may also be included in such
articles of incorporation an additional statement that the stated capital
shall not be less than the amount therein specified.
ARTICLE 23. Subject to the designations,
preferences, privileges and voting powers or restrictions or
qualifications granted or imposed in respect to any class of shares, each
share with or without par value shall be equal to every other share of the
same class.
ARTICLE 24. A corporation may issue and
may sell its authorized shares without par value for such consideration as
may be prescribed in its articles of incorporation; or for such
consideration which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, shall be
the fair value of such shares; or for such consideration as from time to
time may be fixed by the Board of Directors, pursuant to authority
conferred in such articles of incorporation; as shall be consented to or
approved by the holders of at least a majority of the shares entitled to
vote.
ARTICLE 25. Any and all shares referred
to in Articles 22, 23 and 24 of this law shall be deemed fully paid and
non-assessable. The holders of such shares shall not be liable to the
corporation or its creditors in respect thereto.
ARTICLE 26. The shares of a corporation
shall be paid at such time and in such a manner as the Board of Directors
may determine. In case of default in the payment, the Board of Directors
may either proceed against the defaulting stockholder to enforce payment
of the amounts due and unpaid and to collect such damages as the
corporation may have suffered, or rescind the subscription contract in
respect to the stockholder in default, having the right in this last
alternative to retain for the corporation such amounts as the defaulting
stockholder may be entitled to receive from the funds of the corporation.
In the event that the corporation should
proceed to rescind the subscription contract in respect to the stockholder
in default and to retain for the corporation the amounts to which the
stockholder may be entitled, the Board of Directors shall give at least
sixty days advance notice to such stockholder.
Shares acquired by the corporation by
virtue of the provisions of this article may be reissued or re-offered for
subscription.
ARTICLE 27. Every certificate of stock
shall contain the following statements:
1. The reference to the registration of
the corporation in the Mercantile Registry;
2. The amount of its capital stock;
3. The number of shares owned by the
stockholder or bearer;
4. The class of share, if there is more
than one class, and if the stock is classified, a summary statement of the
special conditions, designations, preferences, privileges, voting powers,
restrictions or qualifications that one of the classes of the shares has
over the others.
5. If the shares which it represents are
fully paid and non-assessable, the certificate of stock shall so state;
and if such shares are not fully paid and non-assessable, the certificate
shall state the amount or amounts which have been paid thereon;
6. If the shares are represented by
certificate issued in the name of the owner, it should contain the name of
said owner.
ARTICLE 28. Shares may be issued to
bearer only if fully paid and non-assessable.
ARTICLE 29. Shares represented by
certificates issued in the name of the owner shall be transferable on the
books of the corporation in such manner and under such regulations as may
be provided in the articles of incorporation or in the by-laws. But in no
case shall the transfer of stock be binding on the corporation unless it
shall have been registered in the corporation books.
If the stockholder shall be indebted to
the corporation, the corporation may refuse to permit the transfer of his
stock until such indebtedness is paid. But in all cases the transferor and
the transferee shall be jointly liable for the payment of the amounts owed
to the corporation by virtue of the shares so transferred.
ARTICLE 30. Shares issued to bearer shall
be transferable by delivery of the certificate or certificates
representing title.
ARTICLE 31. If so provided in the
articles of incorporation, any holder of a certificate for shares issued
to bearer may exchange such certificate for a certificate or certificates
for a like number of shares of the same class issued in his name; and the
holder of a certificate for shares issued in the name of the owner may
exchange it for a certificate for a like number of shares issued to
bearer.
ARTICLE 32. The articles of incorporation
may provide that in case a stockholder desires to sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of his shares of stock, the corporation or some
stockholder or stockholders thereof shall have a preferential right to
purchase such shares.
Any other restrictions upon the transfer
or transferability of the shares may also be imposed; but any restriction
absolutely preventing a stockholder from selling, transferring or
disposing of his shares of stock shall be invalid.
ARTICLE 33. A corporation may issue a new
stock certificate in place of any certificate previously issued by it
alleged to have been destroyed, lost or stolen. The Board of Directors
may, in such cases, require the owner of the destroyed, lost or stolen
certificate to post security against any claim that may be made against
the corporation or damage suffered by it.
ARTICLE 34. The articles of incorporation
may provide that the holders of any designated class or classes of stock
shall not be given voting rights; or they may otherwise limit or define
the respective voting powers of the several classes of stock.
Such provisions of the articles of
incorporation shall be controlling in all elections and in all proceedings
in which the law requires the vote or the written consent of the holders
of all of the shares or of a specified proportion of the shares of the
corporation.
The articles of incorporation may also
provide that for specified purposes the vote of more than a majority of
the holders of any class of stock shall be required.
ARTICLE 35. One or more stockholders by
agreement in writing may transfer stock to a voting trustee or trustees
for the purpose of conferring upon it or them the right to vote thereon in
the name and in place of the owner for the period and upon the terms and
conditions therein stated. Other stockholders may transfer their stock to
the same trustee or trustees and thereupon shall be a party to such
agreement. The certificates of stock so transferred shall be surrendered
and canceled and new certificates therefore issued to such trustee or
trustees, in which it shall appear that they are issued pursuant to such
agreement, and in the entry of such ownership in the proper books of the
corporation that fact shall also be noted. In order for the provisions
contained in this article be carried into effect, it will be necessary
that a certified copy of such agreement be filed with the corporation.
ARTICLE 36. Every corporation organized
under this law shall keep at its office in the Republic, or at such other
place or places as the articles of incorporation or the by-laws may
provide, a book to be known as the Stock Register, containing (except in
the case of shares issued to bearer) the names alphabetically arranged of
all persons who are stockholders of the corporation, showing their places
of domicile, the number of shares held by each one respectively, the date
of acquisition thereof and the amount paid thereon or that they are fully
paid and non-assessable.
In the case of shares issued to bearer
such Stock Register shall state the number of shares so issued, and the
date of issue and that such shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
ARTICLE 37. Dividends may be paid to the
stockholders from the net earnings of the corporation or from the surplus
of its assets over its liabilities and capital stock, but not otherwise.
The corporation may declare and may pay dividends upon the basis of the
amount actually paid upon partly paid shares of stock.
ARTICLE 38. When the directors shall so
determine, dividends may be paid in stock of the corporation; provided the
stock issued for such purpose shall be duly authorized and provided, if
such stock has not heretofore been issued, there shall be transferred from
surplus to the capital of the corporation an amount at least equal to that
for which such stock could be lawfully issued.
ARTICLE 39. Every stockholder shall be
personally liable to the creditors of the corporation only to an amount
equal to the amount not paid on his stock; but no action shall be brought
against a stockholder for any debt of the corporation until judgment
therefore has been rendered against the corporation and execution thereon
has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part.
CHAPTER IV: Stockholders' Meetings
ARTICLE 40. Whenever under the provisions
of this law the approval or authorization of the stockholders is required,
the notice of such stockholders' meeting shall be in writing and in the
name of the President, Vice-President, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
or of such other person or persons so authorized by the articles of
incorporation or the by-laws.
Such notice shall state the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called and the time and place at which
it is to be held.
ARTICLE 41. All meetings of stockholders
shall be held within the Republic, unless otherwise provided in the
articles of incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE 42. Such notice shall be given at
such time prior to any such meeting and in such manner as the articles of
incorporation or by-laws of the corporation provide; but unless they
otherwise provide, such notice shall be given personally or by mail upon
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than
ten no more than sixty days before such meeting.
If the corporation has issued shares to
the bearer, notice of stockholders' meetings shall be published in such
manner, as the articles of incorporation or by-laws provide.
ARTICLE 43. Any stockholder may waive
notice of any meeting by document signed by him or his representative
either before or after the meeting.
ARTICLE 44. The resolutions approved in
any meeting at which all stockholders are present, in person or by proxy,
shall be valid for all purposes and the resolutions approved in any
meeting at which a quorum is present, notice of which shall have been
waived by all absent stockholders, shall be valid for all purposes stated
in such waiver, even though in either of the above-mentioned cases the
notice required by this law, the articles of incorporation or the by-laws
has not been given.
ARTICLE 45. Unless otherwise provided in
the articles of incorporation, every stockholder of a corporation shall be
entitled at each meeting of stockholders thereof to one vote for each
share of stock registered in his name on the books of the corporation
regardless of the class of said stock and whether it has a nominal or par
value. It is hereby understood, however, that unless contrary provision
should be made in the articles of incorporation, the directors may
prescribe a period not exceeding forty (40) days prior to any meeting of
the stockholders during which time no transfer of stock on the books of
the corporation may be made, or may fix a day not more than forty (40)
days prior to the holding of any such meeting as the day as of which all
stockholders (other than the holders of shares issued to bearer) entitled
to notice of and with the right to vote at such meeting shall be
determined, in which case, only stockholders of record on such day shall
be entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting.
ARTICLE 46. In the case of shares issued
to bearer, the bearer of a certificate or certificates representing such
shares shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the stockholders
for each share of stock entitled to vote at such meeting, represented by
such certificate, upon presentation at such meeting of such certificate or
certificates, or upon presentation of such other evidence of ownership as
may be prescribed by the articles of incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE 47. At any meeting of the
stockholders any stockholder may be represented and vote by proxy or
proxies (who need not be stockholder(s)) appointed by an instrument in
writing, public or private, with or without power of substitution.
ARTICLE 48. The articles of incorporation
of any corporation may provide that at all elections of directors of such
corporation each holder of stock possessing the right to vote for
directors shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of
his shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected,
and that he may cast all of such votes for a single director or may
distribute them among the number to be voted for any two or more of them
as he may see fit.
CHAPTER V: Board of Directors
ARTICLE 49. The business of every
corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors composed of not less
than three directors, all of whom shall be male or female persons of legal
age.
ARTICLE 50. Subject to the provisions of
this law and of the articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors of
every corporation shall have absolute control over and full direction of
the affairs of the corporation.
ARTICLE 51. The Board of Directors may
exercise all of the powers of the corporation except such powers that are
by law, the articles of incorporation or by the by-laws, conferred upon or
reserved to the stockholders.
ARTICLE 52. Subject to the provisions of
this law and the articles of incorporation, the number of Directors shall
be fixed by the by-laws of the corporation.
ARTICLE 53. A majority of the Board of
Directors of a corporation at a meeting duly assembled shall be necessary
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. However, the
articles of incorporation may provide that a certain number of the
directors, whether more or less than a majority, shall be sufficient to
constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE 54. The act of a majority of the
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the
act of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 55. Unless otherwise provided in
the articles of incorporation, no director need be a stockholder.
ARTICLE 56. The directors may make,
alter, amend and repeal the by-laws of the corporation, unless otherwise
provided by the articles of incorporation, or in the by-laws adopted by
the stockholders.
ARTICLE 57. The directors of every
corporation shall be chosen at the time and place and in the manner
provided for by the articles of incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE 58. Vacancies in the Board of
Directors shall be filled in the manner prescribed by the articles of
incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE 59. Subject to the provisions
contained in the two foregoing articles, vacancies, whether resulting from
an increase in the authorized number of directors or otherwise, may be
filled by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
ARTICLE 60. If the directors are not
elected by the specific day designated for that purpose, the directors
then in office shall continue to hold their offices and discharge their
duties until their respective successors shall have been elected.
ARTICLE 61. Unless otherwise provided in
the articles of incorporation or in the by-laws, the Board of Directors
may appoint two or more of their number to constitute a committee or
committees, who shall have and exercise the powers of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business affairs of the corporation to
the extent and subject to the restrictions expressed in the articles of
incorporation, the by-laws, or the resolutions appointing such committees.
ARTICLE 62. If the articles of
incorporation so provide, at any meeting of the directors, any director
may be represented and vote by proxy or proxies (who need not be
directors), appointed by an instrument in writing, public or private, with
or without power of substitution.
ARTICLE 63. Directors may be removed at
any time by the vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote for directors. Officers, agents and employees may be
removed at any time by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors,
or in such a manner as the articles of incorporation or by-laws provide.
ARTICLE 64. If any dividend or
distribution of assets be declared or paid which reduces the value of the
assets of the corporation remaining after the payment of such dividend or
such distribution, as the case may be, to less than the aggregate amount
of its debts and liabilities, including capital stock, or if a reduction
of capital stock be made, except in accordance with the provisions of this
law, or if any report or statements be made which shall be false in any
material representation, the directors of the corporation who assent
thereto with knowledge of the impairment of the capital stock or of such
falsity, as the case may be, shall be jointly and severally liable to the
creditors of the corporation for any loss or damage arising there from.
CHAPTER VI: Officers
ARTICLE 65. Every corporation shall have
a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen by the Board
of Directors and may also have such other officers, agents and
representatives as the Board of Directors or the by-laws or the articles
of incorporation may determine and who shall be chosen in the manner
provided thereby.
ARTICLE 66. Any person may hold two or
more offices, if so provided by the articles of incorporation or by the
by-laws.
ARTICLE 67. No officer need be a director
of the corporation unless the articles of incorporation or by-laws so
require.
CHAPTER VII: Sale of Assets and
Franchises
ARTICLE 68. Every corporation may, by
action taken at any meeting of its Board of Directors, sell, lease,
exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property
and assets, including its goodwill and its corporate franchise, upon such
terms and conditions as its Board of Directors deems expedient, provided
it is authorized by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding a
majority of the shares entitled to voting power and given at a
stockholders' meeting called for that purpose in the manner provided in
Articles 40 through 44 of this law or authorized by the written consent of
such stockholders.
ARTICLE 69. Notwithstanding the
provisions contained in the preceding article, the articles of
incorporation may require that the consent of the stockholders be
expressed in a special manner in order to grant the authority referred to
in said article.
ARTICLE 70. Unless the articles of
incorporation provide otherwise, the vote or assent of stockholders shall
not be necessary for a transfer of assets in trust, or to encumber them by
pledge or mortgage to secure indebtedness of the corporation.
CHAPTER VIII: Mergers
ARTICLE 71. Subject to the provisions of
their articles of incorporation, any two or more corporations organized
under this law may merge into a single corporation. The Directors, or a
majority of them of each of such corporations desiring to merge, may enter
into an agreement signed by them, describing the terms and conditions of
the merger, the mode of carrying the same into effect and stating such
other facts as are necessary to be stated in articles of incorporation and
in accordance with this law, as well as the manner of converting the
shares of each of the constituent corporations into shares of the new
corporation, with such other details and provisions as are deemed
necessary or desirable.
ARTICLE 72. The agreement may provide for
the distribution of cash, notes or bonds in whole or in part, in lieu of
stock, provided, however, that upon such distribution the liabilities of
the new corporation, including those derived by it from the constituent
corporations and including the amount of capital to be issued by the new
corporation pursuant to the terms of merger agreement, shall not exceed
the value of its assets.
ARTICLE 73. Said agreement shall be
submitted to the stockholders of each of the constituent corporations at a
meeting thereof called separately for the purpose of considering the same,
of which meeting notice shall be given in the manner required by articles
40 to 43 of this law. At said meeting said agreement shall be considered
and a vote taken for the adoption or rejection of the same.
ARTICLE 74. Unless the articles of
incorporation otherwise provide, if the votes of stockholders of each
corporation representing a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon
shall be for the adoption of said agreement, then that fact shall be
certified on said agreement by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
each corporation; and the agreements so adopted and certified shall be
signed by the President or Vice-President and Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of each of said corporations in the manner and in accordance
with the requirements specified in Article 2 of this law with reference to
the execution of articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE 75. The agreement of merger so
executed shall be filed for registration in the Mercantile Registry as
required in the case of articles of incorporation and when so filed shall
be the agreement and act of consolidation of said corporations.
ARTICLE 76. When such agreement of
consolidation is executed and filed as required by the two preceding
articles, the separate existence of each constituent corporation shall
cease and the merged corporations shall become a single corporation in
accordance with said agreement possessing all the properties, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises and subject to the restrictions,
obligations and duties of each of the constituent corporations; provided
that all rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of either of
the constituent corporations shall be preserved unimpaired, but such liens
shall be limited to the property affected thereby at the time of the
merger. All debts, liabilities and duties of the constituent corporations
shall appertain to the consolidated corporation and may be enforced
against it to the same extent as if they had been incurred by it.
ARTICLE 77. The articles of incorporation
of any corporation may provide and determine conditions, in addition to
the requirements of this law, upon which such corporation may merge with
any other corporation.
ARTICLE 78. Any action or proceeding
pending by or against the extinguished corporations or any one of them,
the consolidated corporation shall continue as a party to the action.
ARTICLE 79. The liability of corporations
or the stockholders, directors or officers thereof, or the rights and
remedies of the creditors thereof or of persons doing or transacting
business with such corporations shall not in any way be lessened or
impaired by the merger of two or more corporations under the provisions
hereof.
CHAPTER IX: Dissolution
ARTICLE 80. If the Board of Directors
deems it advisable that any corporation organized under this law should be
dissolved, the Board may, by a majority of the whole Board, approve an
agreement of dissolution and, within the ten ensuing days, shall call or
cause to be called, in the manner provided in articles 40 through 43
hereof, a meeting of the stockholders having voting power to take such
action to approve or reject the resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE 81. If, at such meeting of the
holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote such stockholders by
resolution consent to the dissolution, copy of such resolution together
with a list of the names and residences of the Directors and Officers,
certified by the President or a Vice-President and the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, shall be
made and executed and filed for recordation in the Mercantile Registry as
required in Article 2.
ARTICLE 82. Upon such filing at the
Registry Office, a copy thereof shall be published in one issue of a
newspaper published in the place where the office of the dissolved
corporation was situated in this Republic, or if there be no such
newspaper then in the Official Gazette of the Republic.
ARTICLE 83. Whenever all the stockholders
with voting power consent in writing to a dissolution, no meeting of the
Board of Directors or of the Stockholders shall be necessary for that
purpose.
ARTICLE 84. The document setting forth
such consent of the stockholders shall be protocolized and filed for
record in the Mercantile Registry and published in the manner provided in
Article 82 hereof. Once these formalities have been complied with, such
corporation shall be deemed to be dissolved.
ARTICLE 85. All corporations, whether
they expire by their own limitation or are otherwise dissolved, shall
nevertheless continue to exist for the term of three years from such
expiration or dissolution for the purpose of prosecuting or defending
suits by or against them or enabling them to settle their business and
dispose of and convey their property and to divide their capital stock,
but under no circumstance may it continue the business for which said
corporation was established.
ARTICLE 86. When any corporation expires
by its own limitation or is otherwise dissolved, the Directors shall act
as trustees of such corporation with full power to settle the affairs,
collect the outstanding debts, sell and convey the property of all kinds
and divide the moneys and property among the stockholders, after paying
the debts of the corporation, and they shall have authority, in the name
of the corporation, to sue for the recovery of its debts and property and
to defend it when sued for debts owing by such corporation.
ARTICLE 87. In the case of the foregoing
article, the Directors shall be jointly and severally responsible for the
debts of the corporation, but only up to the amount of the moneys and
properties which have come into their control.
ARTICLE 88. The Directors shall have the
power to apply moneys and property of the corporation to the payment of a
reasonable compensation for their services and to fill any vacancies which
may occur in their number.
ARTICLE 89. The Directors, acting as
trustees pursuant to the provisions of Articles 86, 87 and 88, shall act
by majority vote.
CHAPTER X: Foreign Corporations
ARTICLE 90. A foreign corporation may
maintain offices or agencies and carry on business in the Republic,
provided it files in the Mercantile Registry the following documents for
recording:
1. Deed of protocolization of its
Articles of Incorporation;
2. Copy of its last balance sheet
accompanied by a
declaration of the amount of its capital engaged or to be engaged in
business in the Republic;
3. A certificate setting forth that it is
incorporated and organized under the laws of the country of its domicile
authenticated by a Consular Representative of the Republic in said
country, or if there be none, then by that of a friendly nation.
ARTICLE 91. A foreign corporation
maintaining an office or carrying on business in the Republic of Panama
which has not complied with the requirements of this law may not sue in
any court of the Republic, but may be sued therein. Any such corporation
shall furthermore be liable to a fine of up to FIVE THOUSAND BALBOAS
(B/.5,000.00) to be imposed by the Secretary of Finance and the Treasury.
ARTICLE 92. A foreign corporation
carrying on business in the Republic which has recorded its articles of
incorporation in the Mercantile Registry according to this law, shall be
required to record in such Registry all amendments of such articles of
incorporation and the instruments of consolidation or dissolution
affecting it.
CHAPTER XI: Sundry Provisions
ARTICLE 93. National or foreign
corporations established or having agencies or branches in the Republic at
the time that this law comes into effect shall be governed insofar as
refers to the contracting parties by their articles of incorporation,
their by-laws and the laws in force at the time of their organization or
of their establishment in the Republic, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 94. National corporations
organized before this law comes into effect may at any time be governed by
the provisions of this law; this fact must be set forth in a resolution
adopted by the stockholders, which must be recorded in the Registry
Office.
The stockholders of national corporations
actually dissolved but not yet liquidated may, for the purpose of the
liquidation, be governed by the provisions of this article, provided that
it is so resolved by a number of stockholders not less than that required
by the by-laws to provide for the dissolution of the corporation before
the expiration of the term fixed for such corporation.
ARTICLE 95. All the provisions heretofore
in force relative to corporations are hereby repealed.
ARTICLE 96. This law shall come into
effect on the first day of April, 1927.