Offshore company

The term offshore company or offshore corporation is used in at least two distinct and different ways. An offshore company may be a reference to:

The former use (companies formed in offshore jurisdictions) is probably the more common usage of the term. In isolated instances the term can also be used in reference to companies with offshore oil and gas operations.

Companies from offshore jurisdictions

In relation to companies and similar entities which are incorporated in offshore jurisdictions, the use of both the words "offshore" and "company" can be varied in application.

The extent to which a jurisdiction is regarded as offshore is often a question of perception and degree. Classic tax haven countries such as Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands are quintessentially offshore jurisdictions, and companies incorporated in those jurisdictions are invariably labelled as offshore companies. Thereafter there are certain small intermediate countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore (sometimes referred to as "mid-shore" jurisdictions) which, whilst having oversized financial centres, are not zero tax regimes. Finally, there are classes of industrialised economies which can be used as part of tax mitigation structures, including countries like Ireland, the Netherlands and even the United Kingdom, particularly in commentary relating to corporate inversion. Furthermore, in Federal systems, states which operate like a classic offshore centre can result in corporations formed there being labelled as offshore, even if they form part of the largest economy in the world (for example, Delaware in the United States).

Angola

Coordinates: 12°30′S 18°30′E / 12.500°S 18.500°E / -12.500; 18.500

Angola /æŋˈɡoʊlə/, officially the Republic of Angola (Portuguese: República de Angola pronounced: [ɐ̃ˈɡɔlɐ]; Kikongo, Kimbundu and Umbundu: Repubilika ya Ngola), is a country in Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa, and is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to west. The exclave province of Cabinda has borders with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital and largest city is Luanda.

Although its territory has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, modern Angola originates in Portuguese colonization, which began with, and was for centuries limited to, coastal settlements and trading posts established from the 16th century onwards. In the 19th century, European settlers slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. As a Portuguese colony, Angola did not encompass its present borders until the early 20th century, following resistance by groups such as the Cuamato, the Kwanyama and the Mbunda. Independence was achieved in 1975 after a protracted liberation war. That same year, Angola descended into an intense civil war that lasted until 2002. It has since become a relatively stable unitary presidential republic.

Portuguese Angola

Portuguese Angola or Portuguese West Africa are the common terms by which Angola is designated when referring to the historic period when it was a Portuguese overseas territory in southwestern Africa. The former Portuguese Angola became an independent country in 1975 and now forms the Republic of Angola.

During its history of 400 years, Portuguese Angola had the following formal designations: Donee of the Kingdom of Sebaste (1575-1588) Captaincy-General of the Kingdom of Angola (1588-1834), Province of Angola (1834-1926), Colony of Angola (1926-1951), Province of Angola (1951-1972) and State of Angola (1972-1975). It is to note that the term "Colony of Angola" began to be used occasionally since 1914, but only in 1926 it completely replaced the designation "Province of Angola".

History

The history of Portuguese presence on the territory of contemporary Angola lasted from the arrival of the explorer Diogo Cão in 1484 until the decolonization of the territory in 1975. During these five centuries, several entirely different situations have to be distinguished.

Angola (Book of Mormon)

Angola (/ænˈɡoʊ.lə/) is a city mentioned in the Book of Mormon. It was located near or in the north countries and was the site of a portion of the long and final battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites.

The city is identified in only one verse, Mormon 2:4. The Nephites retreated towards the north countries and came to Angola and fortified the city during the period of A.C. 327–328, but were unable to withstand the Lamanites' attacks and were driven from the city.Mormon 2:5 might be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that Angola was located somewhere in the land of David.

It has been argued that Joseph Smith named the Book of Mormon city after Angola, New York.Mormon apologists have pointed out that while the Book of Mormon was first published in 1830, the New York settlement did not adopt the name "Angola" until 1855.

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