The British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) has long been a world renowned international financial centre, with more than 380,000 active companies registered there. Sophisticated and professional investors are drawn to the BVI by its numerous benefits, including its combination of political and economic stability, progressive corporate law framework, robust but appropriate corporate governance and regulation, favourable taxation, and highly-skilled and comprehensive service providers.

Such benefits provide many advantages for corporate holding structures established in the BVI, which have resulted in BVI companies being active throughout the global economy and holding assets and undertaking business activities across multitudinous industries and sectors.

Whilst the global market for mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) has, undoubtedly, been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs of a recovery; and this note is intended to provide some practical guidance for purchasers, sellers and other stakeholders in relation to M&A activity involving privately-held BVI business companies.

Click to view article