International offshore company formation

General
Type of Company	International
Political Stability	Fair
Standard Authorised Capital	No
Tax on Offshore Profits	Nil
Corporate Requirements
Local Registered Office and Registered Agent Required	Yes
Minimum Number of Directors/Managers	1
Local Directors Required	No
Corporate Directors Permitted	Yes
Minimum Number of Shareholders/Members	1
Local Shareholders Required	No
Corporate Shareholders Permitted	Yes
Company Secretary Required	Yes
Bearer Shares Allowed	Yes, but not available
Annual Requirements
Filing of Annual Return	Yes
Submit Audited Accounts	No
Min. Annual Tax / Licence Fees	US$500
Shelf Companies Available	Yes

GENERAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION
The Cook Islands comprises a group of 15 islands located between Tahiti in the east, Samoa and Tonga. The largest island and administrative centre is Rarotonga which is approximately 3,000 km north-east of Auckland, New Zealand and the township of Avarua on that island is the administrative and commercial centre of the Cook Islands. The Islands became self-governing in 1965 but New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defence. The total population of the Island group is approximately 19,000.

LANGUAGE
The official language is English however Cook Islands Maori is widely spoken.

TYPE OF LAW
The legal system is based on English common law and incorporates a considerable body of New Zealand statute law.

COMPANY INFORMATION

TYPE OF COMPANY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
International Business Company

TIME TO INCORPORATE
One Day, but allow ten working days for receipt of documentation.

RESTRICTIONS ON NAME AND ACTIVITY
Names must end with one of the following words, or abbreviations thereof - Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Societe Anonyme or Sociedad Anonima.

The following words, and their associated activities, cannot be used: Assurance, Bank, Building Society, Chamber of Commerce, Chartered, Cooperative, Imperial, Insurance, Municipal and Royal.

CLASSES OF SHARES PERMITTED
Registered shares, bearer shares, preference shares, redeemable shares, shares with or without voting rights and shares of no par value.

DISCLOSURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP TO AUTHORITIES
No.

LICENCE FEES
An International Business Company pays an annual licence fee of US$500.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS
All companies must lodge annual returns accompanied by audited accounts however this latter requirement can be dispensed with by company resolution.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the details contained herein are correct and up-to-date, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice. We do not accept any responsibility, legal or otherwise, for any error or omission.