CREDAL n e t w o r k is a unique Business-Development platform, integrating Corporate Governance, Investment Support, E-Commerce, Corporate Finance and Legal specialists into a unique Advisory, Business-Brokerage & Management service.

Since our 1984 origins, we have always Researched, Thought and Functioned as a multidisciplinary interaction of specialists. CREDAL’s research based design and implementation involves the building of project specific teams and resources into Malta based international joint venture companies and investment funds, enabling private equity to source and assist start-ups and international enterprise.

Headquartered in Malta, the organization’s core competence is Entrusted-Business-Development within a framework of international know-how/know-who, enhancing entrepreneurship via smart governance and best accounting / reporting practices. By assisting clients to adapt to change by changing a national into an international mindset, CREDAL network has itself evolved into a 'private international chamber of commerce’ , carefully sourcing and matching select entrepreneurs, specialists, and finance sources on an invitation and referrals basis. This value-driven filtering reduces client risk on new collaborations which in turn accelerates new network business. This is most evident in multi-jurisdictional projects originally beyond the capacities of a single client in isolation, and too difficult or risky or expensive to organise on the open market except as an integrated part of a larger platform.

Since 2004 CREDAL’s capacity and client potential have been significantly enhanced by membership of CREDAL Advisory in Geneva Group International; the world’s largest association of independent law, audit and consulting firms ( www.ggi.com ), present in more than 100 countries and more than 18.000 employees, and focused primarily on owner-managed and medium sized business, and family offices.

1 - ETHOS & FOCUS

Driven by our ethos of Clarity & Integrity in Communication, Structure, and Delivery, CREDAL remains focused on value-generation and capacity building in the following areas ;

• Strategy, Management & Risk Structuring
• Planning, Set up & Compliance of Trusts, Companies and Funds
• Corporate Governance and capacity building
• Accounting, administration, operations quality control and e-business systems
• IP enhancement, protection & commercialization
• Preparation of Business Plans , Grant applications and Financial modeling
• Investment Trusteeship and Banking support
• Partner search & International Business Brokerage

This careful blending of experience, client uniqueness and CREDAL capacities is constantly enriched via our Network-of-Networking individuals, that continues providing new opportunities, capacities and partners that only a select sharing of tried and tested systems and personal relationships can offer.

Moreover, in fulfilment of our corporate social responsibility, we constantly challenge clients to explore ways of incorporating green technologies and plan projects in an environmentally sustainability manner, generating socially responsible reinvestment into communities.

2 - Risk Management & Business Development

Our principal risk management strategy is to assist clients to carefully filter prospective opportunities and focus exclusively on a few projects whose fundamentals best match the client or enable the client to gear up to the point of being able to responsibly participate in such individually attractive or specifically tailored opportunity.

This design and build approach is facilitated by the clear compliance dictates of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA.com.mt), and by Malta’s endorsement of international accounting standards which in conjunction with one of the world’s most sophisticated legal cultures, provide a versatile foundation for CREDAL’s Entrusted-Business-Development model. In practice every CREDAL operation is further secured by special purpose teams operating from our offices in Malta, assisted by tried and tested international independent professional advisors, called in as and when necessary to match individual client requirements.

Our strength remains the hallmark CREDAL Trusteeship Approach to understanding, protecting and building upon individual client expertise; wealth, opportunities and projects, within a culture of personal attention, team responsibility, transparent management and ongoing financial control. These elements are bound together by a passion for detail, enabling us to build value on the basis of our unique Integrative Research Thinking & Delivering.

3 - CREDAL International – Client partnering

As the principle client relationship manager, CREDAL International plans and integrates a business-building/multi-disciplinary support via the CREDAL Advisory and the CREDAL Management teams, who engineer delivery of the most appropriate solutions. These vary from one off acquisitions to day-to-day business administrative operations, accounting, e-business and e-commerce solutions, and IP licensing systems, designed in consultation with client advisors, and CREDAL associates located in the client’s jurisdiction.

CREDAL currently accounts for a diverse portfolio of international investors interested predominantly in consolidating and expanding national and regional business onto a new level of international or global operation.

Client/CREDAL successes range from the development of innovative technology in the water desalination sector, to the managing of financing for building of malls in India and a variety of activities such as the protection and management of medical IP in Austria, licensing of e-commerce solutions in UAE, assistance with preparation for IPO listing on the London and Australian exchanges and E-Learning programmes tailored to European union grants.

4 - EVOLUTION of Malta International

Malta’s evolution from International Maritime Registry launched in 1973 to its current status of 6th largest fleet in the world (and one of only four flags to attain the highest quality ranking in 2006 following Paris Memorandum Port State Inspections) to today’s diverse and solid Financial Services Centre, is evidenced by the fact that the Financial Services industry today accounts for 12% of GDP. Following 2004 European Union membership, the number of blue chip companies, banks and international entrepreneurs settling down in Malta has reached almost 250 new company registrations per month, growing steadily following 2008 transition to the Euro, and post-crisis restructuring of offshore business seeking a quality regulated environment.

5 - Unique Legislative Infrastructure

Malta’s distinctive blending of Civil law principles and UK statute, into a well balanced and pragmatic body of law with clear international application, has provided a world class platform attracting high net worth individuals to reallocate, owner/managers to build new business, and multinationals using Malta for group treasury, pension fund administration, and captive insurance. Moreover all Maltese legislation is published in the island’s official languages; Maltese and English, facilitating international application of the legal system, making Malta a reliable and cost-efficient jurisdiction of choice as the proper law for an international contract or arbitration, dispute resolution, retirement and corporate tax residence, and investment funds, VAT management, trusts, yachts, ships, and aircraft.

6 - EUROPE’s Leading Corporate Residence

Quality of life is a term ordinarily ascribed to individuals, however in Malta’s case, several international businesses have moved to Malta for the same reasons that a young couple planning a family would, or an elder person seeking to retire. Firstly all seek support and security for their current health and wealth, and secondly securing safety and opportunity for their future, including short term cost support, medium cost benefit value, and long term security via appropriate protection, care and succession plans.

Cognizant of its geo-strategic value, quality British Banking heritage, and European character Malta never targeted the ‘volume’ market in any international services field. In fact since its financial services launch in 1988 (via the Malta International Business Activity Act), there has been a deliberate consistent institutional and industry joint-focus on substance based solutions and products. The cautious Regulation-oriented approach has been blessed by unparalleled political and professional consensus across the board, and stringent due diligence secured by a service culture of personal liability for corporate obligations to the authorities and standard full disclosure to banks. This culture of professional responsibility has functioned both as quality filter attracting serious clients over brass-plate volume/risk, and simultaneously keeping the industry on its toes at all levels, growing in sophistication as bridging finance to experts and projects all over the world. Malta today hosts an established community of international traders, steadily expanding as more international operations ‘ settle ’ into a Maltese personal or corporate home, primarily using Maltese solution driven legislation and human resources infrastructure to add value to their operations.

7 - EU Integration & Legislative Sophistication

Malta has implemented all major EU legislation – including the Parent Subsidiary, Royalties and Mergers Directive. Companies incorporated in Malta are considered ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta; subject to tax on their world-wide income and capital gains at 35%. As the EU’s only full imputation system, shareholders of a Malta company are entitled to a credit for corporate tax paid on distributed profits thus qualifying for a refund. It is essential to bear in mind that this is the uniform standard applicable to every Malta company and its shareholders regardless, with no discrimination between resident and foreign shareholders.

8 - Maltese Corporate Business Support

Whilst more expensive (and onerous in terms of compliance, audit and anti-money laundering) than non-EU Financial Centers, Malta is significantly more cost efficient than all other EU options. As a result of this value equation, as well as the Mediterranean quality of life factor, Malta has been steadily assimilating international expertise as several start up and back office corporate operations since the eighties. Although the island still lacks a class of resident investment bankers, there is an increasing amount of fund managers, venture capitalists and compliance specialists, developing Malta as their international base, so that Malta now boasts world class providers of fund services matching the advantages of Luxembourg and Ireland plus the additional benefits of unrivalled tax treatment and a reliable regulatory approach. Whereas most EU Regulators and tax authorities are typically difficult to access, their Maltese counterparts see themselves as part of the solution, and have settled into the role of ‘recommending best way forward’ to new clients at the outset with a ‘prevention is better than cure’ attitude providing the all-important clarity for investors to focus accordingly.

Be it lifestyle or business, a Malta solution is most interesting because of the peace of mind emanating from its reliable delivery components. From a practitioner’s perspective, this confidence is built upon two rails; that of ‘Proactive-industry-sight’, and Versatile-people-systems. Typically crystallizing a savvy balance of Regulation and Market suitability, Malta has produced cutting edge regimes offering just the right mix of structure and flexibility, powered by a distinct British-Mediterranean methodology of comparative analysis and creativity. This is Malta’s strategic value; a multidimensional risk management and business structuring capacity that is fortified by best practice, international legal and accounting standards.

9 - Unique Business Development Platform

IIn deciding whether or not to use Malta, a client should view the CREDAL-Malta solution as the engaging of an office & team functioning as a Joint-Venture-Service-Partner with established Malta and CREDAL capacities. In all cases one must carefully plan BOTH the Business AND Private aspects of the solution, secured by :

• Clarity and integrity of all documents / contracts / transaction data, including appropriately documented description and audit trail of all investment funds.
• Client undertaking to provide annual proof of full settlement of home tax on all income earned.
• Governance procedures securing appropriate provision and timely settlement of all Malta Tax (35% on profits) and Value Added Tax (18%) where applicable.
• Reputation building via meetings with local authorities, banks and any outsourcing partners, and quality reporting as part of developing the Maltese corporate identity / governance.

In conclusion, a Malta company, trust or fund remains Europe’s most advantageous platform, in terms of ease of operation guaranteed by tried and tested experts and methodologies. Enjoying a unique UK / EU composition and versatility, the Malta model can best be exploited when customised Malta & CREDAL components combine to add clear economic value to a business model. It is therefore imperative that one understands and builds a Malta solution; not as an alternative or replacement for an offshore company, but as a transparent investor-friendly platform that is universally respected as ideal for multi-jurisdictional business. To maintain these standards, CREDAL’s human resources and systems are regularly reviewed and refined in fulfilment of our partnership philosophy of incorporating Client attention and discipline as part of our consistent focus on quality and value generation..