In relation to the Amendments to the BVI Business Companies Act: Changes to Beneficial Ownership Regulations and the new Register of Members and Register of Directors Filing Requirements, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions Marbury’s Comsec and Compliance Teams have encountered when assisting clients to review and update their new Register of Members (ROM) and […]

In an era of increasing regulatory complexity and escalating compliance costs, fund managers seeking a jurisdiction that offers flexibility without compromising credibility may find the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Approved Manager regime to be an ideal solution. Recognised by the BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC), this light-touch framework provides emerging managers with an efficient and […]

In order to ensure compliance with the BVI’s anti-money laundering regime, Approved Managers are required to appoint a money laundering reporting officer (MLRO) and implement appropriate policies and procedures for adoption on an ongoing basis.

FAQs: 1. Why is year-end accounting and auditing important for my business? 2. What services does Marbury offer for year-end accounting and auditing? 3. What documents do I need to prepare for my year-end audit? 4. What are the key Inland Revenue Department (IRD) PTR deadlines for 2025? 5. Does my Hong Kong company need […]

Introduction In the intricate world of private companies, safeguarding the investments and interests of shareholders is paramount. One such protective measure is the right of pre-emption, also known as the right of first refusal. This corporate mechanism empowers existing shareholders by granting them the opportunity to acquire shares being sold by fellow shareholders before they are […]

Background to the Register of Members and Register of Directors Updates Recent legislative amendments to the Business Companies Act, effective 2 January 2025, have introduced several changes to the filing requirements and deadlines for companies within the BVI. Key updates include amendments to the Register of Members and the Register of Directors, alongside changes to […]

Background to the beneficial ownership updates Recent amendments to the Business Companies Act have introduced several new requirements to align with international compliance standards. The Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) Regulations (the BO Regulations) aim to enhance transparency by mandating certain obligations for companies. The first of these changes is set to commence […]

The deadline for the first filing of annual financial returns (AFRs) by companies incorporated or registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is Monday, 30 September 2024. On 26 September 2024, the BVI Financial Services Commission (the Commission) announced that due to policy and logistical issues in ensuring full compliance for the first return deadline, […]

As noted in our previous updater, amendments to the BVI Business Companies Act (Revised) came into force on 1 January 2023 introducing the requirement for BVI companies to file an annual financial return (AFR) with their registered agent. The BVI Business Companies (Financial Return) Order, 2023 (the Order) enacted in March, details (1) the form of the AFR, (2) the due and filing dates, and (3) entities exempted from filing the AFR.

We provide a comprehensive guide to the AFR requirements and what BVI companies need to know in order to be ready to prepare their AFR.

Scrutiny on offshore transactions and their participants is at an all-time high. Through an ever growing number of regulations and laws, parties to transactions and third party providers from banks to corporate service providers are required to gather and, in some circumstances, share information with governments and regulatory authorities.     For the underlying officers and […]