LAW REGULATING PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS

PANAMA
LAW NO. 25
June 12, 1995
"Whereby Private Foundations are regulated"

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
DECREES:

Article 1.
One or more natural or juridical persons by themselves or through third parties, may create a private foundation in accordance with the provisions set forth in this law. For such purposes, the endowment of a patrimony exclusively dedicated to the objectives or purposes expressly stipulated in the foundation charter is required. The initial patrimony may be increased by the creator of the foundation, hereinafter called the founder, or by any other person.

Article 2.
Private foundations shall be governed by the foundation charter and its regulations, as well as by the provisions of this law and other legal or regulatory provisions that may be applicable. The provisions of Title II of Book I of the Civil Code shall not apply to these foundations.

Article 3.
Private foundations shall not be for profit. However, they may carry out mercantile activities in a non-habitual manner or exercise the rights deriving from titles representing the capital of mercantile corporations that make up the patrimony of the foundation, provided that the economic results or proceeds of such activities be dedicated exclusively for the purposes of the Foundation.

Article 4.
Private foundations may be constituted to become effective at the time of constitution or after the death of its founder, by anyone of the following methods:
a) Through a private document, executed by the founder, whose signature must be authenticated by a notary public at the place of constitution.
b) Directly before a notary public at the place of constitution.
Whichever may be the method of constitution, it must comply with the formalities established in the present Law, for the creation of foundations.
In case of a foundation being created either by public or private document, to have effect after the death of the founder, the formalities stipulated for the execution of testaments shall not apply.

Article 5.
The foundation charter shall contain:
1. The name of the foundation, expressed in any language with characters of the Latin alphabet, which shall not be equal or similar to that of a foundation previously existing in the Republic of Panama, 80 as to avoid confusion. The name must include the word "foundation" to distinguish it from other natural or juridical persons of a different nature.
2. The initial patrimony of the foundation, expressed in any currency of legal tender that in no case shall be less to a sum equivalent ten thousand Balboas (B/10,000.00) =U.S. Dollars .
3. A complete and clear designation, of the member or members of the Foundation Council, to which the founder may belong, including their addresses.
4. The domicile of the foundation.
5. The name and address of the Resident Agent of the foundation in the Republic of Panama, which shall be an attorney or a law firm, who must countersign the foundation charter prior to its registration at the Public Registry.
6. The purposes of the foundation.
7. The manner in which the beneficiaries of the foundation shall be designated, among which the founder may be included.
8. The reservation of the right to amend the foundation charter whenever deemed convenient;
9. The duration of the foundation.
10. The destination to be given to the assets of the foundation and the method of liquidation of its patrimony in case of dissolution;
11. Any other lawful clause that the founder may deem convenient.

Article 6.
The foundation charter, as well as any amendment thereto must be written in any language with characters of the Latin alphabet, and must comply with the regulations for the registration of acts and titles in the Public Registry; for which purpose it must be previously protocolized by a notary public of the Republic (of Panama). If the foundation charter or its amendments are not written in the Spanish language, they must be protocolized together with their (Spanish) translation by an authorized public translator of the Republic of Panama.

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