Labuan Company

The Island of Labuan covers an area of approximately 92 sq km, and has an estimated population of 78,000. The largest town and financial centre is Labuan Town and the main language is Bahasam Melayu but English, Tamil and various Chinese dialects are widely spoken.

Infrastructure and Economy

The Nation is economically strong and politically stable. Under the guidance of LOFSA (the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority) the Malaysian authorities have invested heavily into the improvement of Labuan’s physical infrastructure, which is completely modernised and provides a state of the art telecommunications system including an Internet Gateway which provides an e-commerce platform. More than 50 of the world’s top banks have branches in Labuan.

Political Structure

Labuan was ceded to the state of Sabah in 1963; subsequently its administration was handed to the Federal Government of Malaysia in 1984. Malaysia consists of thirteen states and two federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. Malaysia has a complex political system with power retained in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect a head of state every five years from among their number. Legislative power is in the hands of a bicameral parliament comprising of a House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) and a Senate (Dewan Negara), Executive power is held by the Prime Minister who governs with the assistance of a ministerial cabinet. Appointments are for a five year term.

Language

The Official Language is Bahasa Malay. However, English is widely spoken and many documents and publications are available in English (including the Labuan offshore Legislation).

Currency

The Malaysian currency is the Ringgit (RM). Apart from certain exceptions, offshore companies in Labuan are required to carry on business in a foreign currency.

Exchange Control

None.

Type of Law

The Malaysian legal system is based on the English model. Special laws applicable to the offshore industry in Labuan have been enacted. Arbitration is permitted. Disputes are heard in camera. Final appeal lies with the Supreme Court.

Principal Corporate Legislation

The legislations launched in 2010 are set to enhance the competitiveness of Labuan IBFC in the offering of a wider range of financial products and services, conventional and Islamic, as well as continue to maintain the status of Labuan IBFC as a well regulated centre. The legislations will also ensure that the business transactions and practices in Labuan IBFC continue to be conducted in accordance with the internationally accepted standards and best practices.

Labuan Company Laws

Amended Acts

• Labuan Financial Services Authority Act 1996
• Labuan Business Activity Tax Act 1990
• Labuan Companies Act 1990
• Labuan Trusts Act 1996

New Acts

• Labuan Financial Services And Securities Act 2010 [Act 704]
• Labuan Foundations Act 2010 [Act 706]
• Labuan Islamic Financial Services and Securities Act 2010 [Act 705]
• Labuan Limited Partnership and Limited Liability Partnership Act 2010 [Act 707]

Accordingly, please note that following Acts are repealed by Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010 [Act 704]:-

• Labuan Trust Companies Act 1990 [Act 442]
• Offshore Banking Act 1990 [Act 443]
• Offshore Insurance Act 1990 [Act 444]
• Labuan Offshore Securities Industry Act 1998 [Act 579]

COMPANY INFORMATION

Restrictions on Trading

Permitted trading of an offshore company:

An Offshore Company shall only carry on business in, from or through Labuan. An Offshore Company may not: carry on business with a resident of Malaysia except as permitted by the Offshore Banking Act 1990; carry on the business of Banking or Insurance or such similar business unless it is licensed so to do under the Offshore Banking Act 1990 or the Offshore Insurance Act 1990; carry on business in the Malaysian currency except for defraying its administrative and statutory expenses; carry on business of shipping or petroleum operations in Malaysia or carry on business as a trust company.

Exceptions to carrying on business with residents of Malaysia:

An Offshore Company is not treated as carrying on business with residents of Malaysia if it makes or maintains deposits with a person carrying on business in Malaysia; it makes contact with professional advisers carrying on business in Malaysia; it prepares and maintains books and records in Malaysia; it acquires or holds any lease or property for operational purposes or accommodation of its employees; it holds directors’ or members’ meetings within Malaysia; it holds shares, debt obligations, or other securities in a company incorporated under the Offshore Companies Act 1990 or in a domestic company, or holds shares, debts obligations or other securities for the purposes of a transaction entered in to in the ordinary course of a money-lending business.

Powers of Company

A company incorporated in Labuan has the same powers as a natural person.

Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents

English.

Registered Office Required

Yes and Licensed Agent.

Shelf Companies Available

No.

Time to Incorporate

Four to Eight days.

Name Restrictions

Names resembling the name of an existing company or names that in the opinion of the Registrar suggest Royal or government patronage. Names, which the Registrar considers undesirable, will be rejected.

Names Requiring Consent or a Licence

Bank, building society, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, investment fund, trust, trustees, Chamber of Commerce, university, municipal or their foreign language equivalents.

Language of Name

Offshore companies are allowed to have names in a foreign language, provided they use the Latin alphabet.

Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability

Limited, Incorporated, Corporation, Sociètè Anonyme, Sociedad Anonima or their relevant abbreviation. If the Malaysian word Berhad is used then it must be preceded by “(L)” to denote that the company is incorporated in Labuan.

Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities

No. It is required to disclose the identities of directors and shareholders of Labuan companies to the Authorities for internal records, but not identities of beneficial owners.

COMPLIANCE

Authorised and Issued Share Capital

The standard authorised capital is US$ 10,000; divided in to 10,000 shares of US$ 1. The minimum issued capital is one share, which may be fully or partly paid.

Classes of Shares Permitted

Registered shares of par value, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with no voting rights.

Taxation

Offshore Companies that are trading pay 3% on net audited profits or the sum of RM 20,000 (where no audit is required) in Labuan. Non-Trading companies will be exempted from taxation.

The factor that determines the locality of profits from trading in goods and commodities is generally the place where the contracts for purchase and sale are effected. “Effected” does not only mean that the contracts are legally executed. It also covers the negotiation, conclusion and execution of the terms of the contracts.

If a business earns commission by securing buyers for products or by securing suppliers of products required by customers, the activity which gives rise to the commission income is the arrangement of the business to be transacted between the principals. The source of the income is the place where the activities of the commission agent are performed. If such activities are performed through an office in Hong Kong, the income has a source in Hong Kong.

Double Taxation Agreements

As of May 2011, Malaysia has signed over 70 comprehensive double taxation treaty agreements (DTAs), making the DTA network the most extensive in the region. Labuan companies can now make an irrevocable election to be taxed under the Malaysian Income Tax Act 1967 (ITA), thereby enhancing access to all of Malaysia’s DTAs. A Labuan holding company which has a co-located office in Kuala Lumpur must make the election to be taxed under the ITA.

The DTA partners include: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan (Income Tax Exemption Order), Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Licence Fees

RM 1,500 per annum.

Financial Statements Required

A set of accounting records must be kept in Labuan.

A trading company, which pays 3% of audited net profits, is required to appoint an auditor and file audited financial statements. However if trading companies which elect to pay tax of RM 20,000 p.a., which are not required to file financial statements. Such companies are exempt from appointing an auditor if they are not carried out licensed activities and the members of the company have resolved that no auditor be appointed.

There is a filing fee for “adoption of accounts” and if the accounts of the Labuan Company have been audited, and for the “lodgement of the said audited accounts”.

A non-trading company is not required to appoint an auditor nor file audited financial statements.

Directors

The minimum number of directors is one. Corporate directors are allowed. Directors may be of any nationality and need not be resident in Labuan or Malaysia.

Company Secretary

A Labuan company must have a resident company secretary, who must be a Trust Officer of a trust company.

Shareholders

The minimum number of shareholders is one.

What’s included: