In Hong Kong, Singapore, and other offshore jurisdictions, local statutory laws require making information about shareholders and directors in the company registry public. This means anyone can search their names and addresses.
For Hong Kong private companies, the law requires naming and registering one director who is a natural person of any nationality (and not simply a corporation). This is not an ideal requirement for those who wish to remain anonymous for various reasons and do not wish to make known publicly their interests, investments, or direct relationships with a company.
The answer for those in this predicament lies in a ‘Nominee Director’.
Business owners can nominate a natural person as a ‘Nominee Director’ and delegate the management of day-to-day business affairs under strict instructions. A natural person is also known as an individual. A Nominee Service Agreement can spell out and stipulate a Nominee Director’s roles, responsibilities, and obligations. This agreement not only highlights the duties of the Nominee Director but also protects the business owners from any misconduct by their nominated director.
The Nominee Director for a Hong Kong private company must be a natural person if this is the first director’s appointment. The company can appoint a Corporate Director only after appointing a natural person director.
Roles of a Nominee Director
A Nominee director is usually provided by professional service firms to fulfill legal obligation in setting up a company. They have the same roles and responsibilities as a normal director. For example, both are responsible for the statutory books and filings of the company, they also have to manage annual fillings and annual general meetings. Therefore, professional services will have a liability when providing nominal directors to clients. Selecting a Nominee Director is the early stage of company setting up in Hong Kong. Thus, its is crucial and you may decide whom to appoint as the nomiee director after having a discussion with our corporate specialist from Paul Hype Page.
Advantages of using a Nominee Director
The main reason for a Nominee Director appointment is the legal solution it provides that allows for statutory compliance while at the same time facilitates the high degree of confidentiality and privacy to board members that they so desire.
Another common reason for appointing a Nominee Director is taxation. This is especially true when involving foreign investors, who depending on their home country’s tax law, may lose a chunk of their income due to taxation. A Nominee Director can help to avoid this.
Disadvantages of using a Nominee Director
-
For Nominee Director
- Undertaking of Risky Ventures
Signing formal documents with serious consequences poses unwanted risks to Nominee Directors, especially if speculative or risky ventures are involved and the decision to enter or manage such ventures is not theirs to make or perform. - Disruption to Business Progression
Unwillingness for a Nominee Director to undertake (to sign for) all required and necessary transactions when the need arises disrupts operational or business progress and creates inconvenience for both parties. - Bank Account with Nominee Structure
In accordance with the recommendations of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, some banks refuse or make it increasingly difficult to open bank accounts with nominee structure due to high compliance cost and risks. Banks become suspicious of requests for anonymity under such structures, as banks fear they may be used for tax evasion or money laundering purposes, despite their legitimacy.
- Undertaking of Risky Ventures
At the end of the day, nominee directors may sound beneficial, there are cons to that. They add an extra layer to the company’s business operations, which may arise due to inefficiency or dishonesty in business management. You can mitigate some of these risks through an effective Service Agreement that defines all limitations and indemnities, as well as other documents such as Power of Attorney and Declaration of Trust.
In a Nutshell
A Nominee Director provides confidentiality for those who wish to remain anonymous from the public gaze while ensuring statutory compliance. The business owners can have any reasons for requiring such anonymity, as long as they respect the country’s laws.
However, can a Nominee Director also serve as a Regular Director of a Hong Kong company?
Yes, all the directors fulfill the same duties and responsibilities for the company. The Nominee Director is not treated as an independent director but can be empowered to undertake agreements, make important business decisions, and perform all the tasks of a Regular Director. This representative presents the Hong Kong Company in its best light while protecting the true director’s confidentiality as obligated by the Declaration of Trust. However, this role is ultimately a strictly non-executive one as the Nominee Director will need to consult for approval rather than making any decisions alone. At the end of the day, appointing the right nominee director needs to be extra consideration. If you are unsure, our Paul Hype Page advisor is happy to discuss with you on your business journey in Hong Kong.
FAQs
It can be done through proper execution of nominee service agreement between the nominated person and the business owner, where interests of both parties are protected. The nominated director (or shareholder) does not participate in business management and acts only in accordance with instructions of the business owner.
It is completely legal to use nominee service and quite common in cases when anonymity from the general public needs to be attained and/ or local statutory compliance needs to be
No. The requirement only applies to Hong Kong local private companies.
Pursuant to sections 89(1) and (2) of Schedule 11 to the new CO, a grace period of 6 months after the commencement date of the new CO were given to companies registered under the old Ordinance to comply with the new requirement. Appointment of new directors should already have been reported to the Registrar of Companies (‘the Registrar”) in the specified form within 15 days pursuant to section 645 of the new CO.
The purpose is to enhance transparency and accountability of directors.
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Dear Sir/Madam,
Hope this mail finds you well.
I am writing to you to check could you help us with the following:
We have a new Hong Kong trading company. We produce and sell wooden toys.
The company shareholder is not HK residence.
Some companies to cooperate with them request any local (HK) related with company, like trustee service.
Do you provide such service? What options do you have for it?
Evgeniy
Hi,
Your KITAS under your PT PMA company allows you to work and reside in Indonesia. Therefore, you can continue providing educational trainings while being the director of another PT PMA company.
Let us know if there’s anything else we can assist you with: sales@php-cpa.com.sg