En varias ocasiones, sobre todo en los últimos tiempos, hemos visto con preocupación cómo se confunde la personalidad del agente residente con aquélla de las sociedades que incorporamos como parte de nuestro ejercicio profesional. Resulta ya hasta común encontrar titulares en los medios de comunicación que responsabilizan a los agentes residentes panameños por las investigaciones y procesos judiciales que contra sociedades panameñas se ventilan en otros países.
En ese momento, muy en lo personal me he percatado de que quizás hemos dado por sentado que quien recibe la información, procesa, investiga y difunde la noticia, tiene completamente claro cuál es el concepto y la función del agente residente en nuestro país. Lo realmente cierto es que quien recibe la noticia posiblemente tampoco lo tenga claro. Y cuando esta noticia, fundamentada en concepciones erradas o imperfectas alcanza la esfera internacional, el impacto que resulta es adverso a las gestiones de promoción que se realizan para la atracción de inversión extranjera hacia nuestro país y la consolidación de la reputación de nuestra plataforma de servicios a nivel internacional. De allí la importancia de que quienes actúan como fuentes calificadas de información, manejen a cabalidad estos conceptos. Qué es entonces la figura del Agente Residente? En nuestra legislación, la figura tiene su génesis en la Ley 32 de 1927, que hoy en día es la Ley que regula el tema de las sociedades anónimas en nuestro país. Dicha Ley, en su artículo 2, ordinal 7, establece que toda sociedad anónima debe tener un agente en la República de Panamá, el cual puede ser una “persona jurídica”. La norma tal como fue redactada dejaba abierta la posibilidad que cualquier persona, natural o jurídica, con independencia de su profesión u oficio, pudiese fungir como agente residente de una sociedad anónima. No fue sino hasta el año 1966, cuando mediante el Decreto 147 de 4 de mayo de ese año, que reglamentó la inscripción de ciertos documentos en el Registro Público, se especificó que únicamente podía ser agente de una sociedad anónima, “un abogado o una sociedad de abogados hábiles para ejercer la profesión”. La calificación introducida por este Decreto obedeció a que cuando quien representa a una persona jurídica, actúa en representación de ella ante las autoridades, esa representación no la hace en nombre propio sino en nombre y representación de una persona distinta, y este tipo de representación o actuación por ley está reservada a los abogados. Así quedamos entonces los abogados, en forma individual o colegiada, a través de las firmas de abogados, encargados de la protocolización e inscripción en el Registro Público, de los pactos sociales que dan vida jurídica a las sociedades anónimas, con independencia de que las mismas vayan a tener operaciones dentro o fuera de Panamá. Lo cierto es que la incorporación de sociedades ha sido siempre parte de nuestro ejercicio profesional y nuestra función como agentes residentes ha sido el servir de enlace entre las autoridades panameñas o terceros y nuestros clientes, sin que esto nos otorgue la capacidad para obligar y comprometer a la sociedad o la facultad para actuar en representación de ésta. Y es que la Corte Suprema de Justicia ha manifestado en varias ocasiones que los agentes residentes tenemos un deber de cooperación y colaboración con las autoridades competentes del Ministerio Público, para los fines de persecución de los delitos. Los abogados, como cualquier otra persona, estamos obligados a otorgar de oficio, cuantas notas, datos e informes nos soliciten los agentes del Ministerio Público cuando éstos actúen en defensa de los intereses públicos o como funcionarios de instrucción. Esta obligación está contenida en el Artículo 391 del Código Judicial. Pero esta labor de cooperación no debe confundirse con una vinculación del agente residente con las acciones o gestiones derivadas de las operaciones de las sociedades que incorporamos. Los agentes residentes no somos responsables por el actuar comercial de estas sociedades, por el solo hecho de fungir como tales.
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Entrevista realizada en el noticiero de TVN-2 Panamá al Lic. Ramón Fonseca Mora, aclarando ante los medios que Mossack Fonseca no ha sido demandada, ni acusada y hace docencia sobre los vehículos legales usados por nuestra industria.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama announced that the Republic of Paraguay has removed Panamá from its list of countries and regimes of low or no taxation.
The Panamanian Foreign Ministry commented "According to the decree issued by Paraguayan authorities, we are being recognized for our efforts and commitment with regard to the transparency of our financial, business and trade systems, and our removal from the FATF "Gray List". The Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, said that she is sure that this will promote an increase in the economic and commercial relations between the two countries. The Minister of Foreign Affairs went on to say "Panama reiterates its commitment with the continuous modernization and updating of our financial services platform―this is done through the strengthening of legislation and collaboration with the international financial community to achieve the optimal economic development and maintain the defense of our international prestige". Mossack Fonseca & Co Head Office, 54th Street, Marbella Panama, Rep. of Panama Tel: (507) 205.5888 http://www.mossfon.com/ MISSION
To deliver quality, reliable and comprehensive services to our worldwide clients in the legal, trust, investment consultancy** and digital solution fields through our group´s firms, our global network of offices, our highly skilled staff and the cutting edge technology we have always embraced, meeting client needs by generating value while being able to compensate our shareholders, our employees and the society at large in a responsible manner. **Entity Regulated and Supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama. Licensed to operate as an Investment Adviser. Resolution No. 94-06 of April 26th, 2006. VISION To be the leading local and international group in the provision of legal and trust services, as well as investment consultancy** and digital solutions, known for our prestigious firms and our commitment to service and excellence. **Entity Regulated and Supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama. Licensed to operate as an Investment Adviser. Resolution No. 94-06 of April 26th, 2006. CORE VALUES:
QUALITY POLICY Mossack Fonseca & Co. is committed to offering quality legal and trust services in order to satisfy our clients, under a continual improvement scheme and with competent personnel. Bearer Share Custody System
The bearer share immobilization system was introduced in Panama by means of Law 47 of 6th August 2013 and was substantially amended by Law 18 of 23rd April 2015. Luis Quiel of Mossack Fonseca shall review here the most important aspects of the custody system, as modified by the most recent amendments. Entry into Force is Moved Forward Companies that were formed before 4th May 2015 have up to 31st December 2015 to delete from their articles of incorporation the possibility of issuing bearer shares or to deposit the bearer share certificates with an authorized custodian. The latter would require, either amending the articles of incorporation to expressly allow bearer shares under the custody system, or having such system approved in a board of directors minutes registered at the Public Registry. If any company does not formally approve (before 31st December 2015) a decision to allow the immobilization of bearer share certificates, the bearer share certificates that it has issued shall be null and void by full right. The deadline of 31st December 2015 applies only to companies formed before 4th May 2015. For bearer shares issued on or after 4th May 2015, the term expired on 4th August 2015. Legal Consequences of Lack of Action Articles of incorporation of companies that envisage the issuance of bearer shares and that have not been amended to provide for immobilization with authorized custodians (save if the decision was adopted through a board resolution duly registered at the Public Registry) will be deemed to have been amended by operation of law as of 1st January 2016. This will cause two important consequences for such companies: 1) bearer shares that are outstanding shall be irrevocably null and void, and 2) the company may not issue new bearer shares. Immobilization or Custody System To benefit from the bearer share custody system, certain requirements need to be complied with as follows: 1. Amendment of the articles of incorporation or registration of the decision of the corporation’s board of directors before 31st December 2015, so as to envisage bearer shares in custody according to the system created by Law 47 of 2013 and Law 18 of 2015. 2. Deposit of the bearer share certificates with an authorized custodian. 3. The authorized custodian shall require a sworn statement from the shareholder that includes information allowing due identification of the owner of the bearer shares and the corporation’s resident agent, including contact details. The law provides for two kinds of authorized custodians: 1) local authorized custodians, and 2) foreign authorized custodians. The former may be banks holding a general license and trust companies authorized by the Panama Bank Superintendence (SBP―its initials in Spanish); brokerage houses and securities clearing houses authorized by the Securities Market Superintendence (SMV―its initials in Spanish); and attorneys at law certified as such by the Supreme Court of Justice. Banks, trust companies, and financial intermediaries may be foreign authorized custodians if they hold a license for practicing their activities as set forth in jurisdictions that are members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering or are associated members that are registered with the SBP on a special register that the latter keeps to such end. Rights over Certificates in Custody The ownership of shares in custody may be transferred without need for the physical delivery of the certificates, provided that the owner advises the custodian that he/she has made the transfer and that the acquirer submits a sworn statement to the custodian that includes the required information (name and identification data, as well as contact data). The law provides, likewise, for an interesting pledge system that allows the creation of such encumbrance on bearer shares in custody, by the owner merely giving notice to the authorized custodian whereby he/she advises the pledging of the shares as well as the lienholder’s full name, physical address, telephone number, and email address. Lastly, a special inheritance disposition system has been created for bearer shares that allow owners to dispose mortis cause of their shares, without need for such shares to be the object of a probate process for their transfer upon the grantor’s death. Conclusion As Luis Quiel of Mossack Fonseca has outlined, as of 1st January 2016, bearer shares that are not regulated by the custody system in accordance with Law 47 of 2013, as amended by Law 18 of 2015, shall be irrevocably null and void by operation of law. It is important to take provisions in time and to make corporate decisions in accordance with the formalities set by the law. Otherwise, the legal and financial consequences of the annulment of the rights inherent to such bearer shares may be quite costly. PRIMERA EMPRESA DE SERVICIOS LEGALES CERTIFICADA EN ISO 9001
Mossack Fonseca & Co. es la primera y única empresa de servicios legales certificada por la Norma ISO 9001:2008 en la República de Panamá. La misma recibió la nueva certificación del sistema de gestión de calidad global de la SGS, entidad de certificación acreditada bajo el aval del Servicio de Acreditación del Reino Unido (UKAS por sus siglas en inglés) y el Instituto Nacional de Normalización Estadounidense (ANAB por sus siglas en inglés). La Norma ISO 9001:2008 es una norma internacional, basada en los criterios elaborados por la Organización Internacional de Estandarización (ISO por sus siglas en inglés) y utilizada en organizaciones como el referente mundial para garantizar la capacidad de una organización de satisfacer los requerimientos de calidad y mejorar sus procesos para así obtener la satisfacción del cliente. Mossack Fonseca & Co. Ha adoptado la Norma ISO 9001:2008 con el fin de que su desempeño pueda orientarse, estructurada e integralmente, hacia el camino de la excelencia. La norma ISO 9001:2008, formal e independientemente reconoce una política que ya es parte integral del enfoque de Mossack Fonseca & Co para hacer negocios, donde la excelencia en los servicios legales es una prioridad. Vea nuestras certificaciones de calidad ISO 9001:2008. MEMBRESÍAS Y ASOCIACIONES El Grupo Mossack Fonseca se enorgullece en formar parte de las más prestigiosas asociaciones internacionales de la industria. Subscripciones: Economist.com London, Editorial Marcasur, Informa Uk, Martindale Hubbel LexisNexis, Nueva Prensa Financiera, Money laundering, Law Business Research London, Justis Publishing. Ver lista de miembros Alden McLaughlin, the premier of the Cayman Islands, has denied the UK’s request for direct access by its law enforcement agencies to beneficial ownership (BO) information in the Cayman Islands.
Premier McLaughlin indicated in his 26 November 2015 Premier's Statement on Beneficial Ownership: “The information concerned does not belong to the Cayman Islands Government. It is the property of the owners of the respective legal entities. Further, as far as we are aware, there is no country in the world that allows unrestricted access to beneficial ownership information by the law enforcement agencies of another country”. The Premier made it clear that there is already an effective process that allows overseas law enforcement authorities to access beneficial ownership information. He stated that the process is carefully administered to ensure legality, accuracy, and compliance with existing global standards. The Premier summarized his statement as follows: 1. We will not agree to a public register unless and until that becomes the global standard and all of our competitors also subscribe to that standard. 2. We will not agree to unfettered access to Cayman Islands beneficial ownership information by external law enforcement, tax or regulatory authorities. Requests for such information must continue to meet established criteria and be dealt with by the relevant Cayman Islands authorities established for that purpose and approved as being in accordance with global standards. Source: Cayman Islands Government: Premier's Statement Mossack Fonseca & Co. - Office Profile |
About USThe Mossack Fonseca Group is a leading international corporation which provides comprehensive legal, trust, technological and accounting services. With over 500 staff members in all continents, Mossack Fonseca provides personalized advice based on more than 36 years of experience in the market. They also offer world-class service through their exclusive online services which are available 24 hours a day. Archives
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