Entity Management Matters

DECEMBER 2025

Welcome back to Entity Management Matters!

Over the last few months, the Odyssey team reviewed the newsletter’s format and structure to ensure you receive the best information available. Your feedback is invaluable so please feel free to share your comments with us. 

FOCUS ON...

Registered agents

US companies often asks us to handle or provide registered agents for their foreign entities. Here's the problem: more often than not, there is no such thing!

In most countries a company’s registered address is simply its main place of business – i.e. the physical location of its headquarters.

This is because governments other than US are less preoccupied with making sure that a company can be served notice of proceedings – the main purpose of a registered agent. The reason behind this might be that litigation is more commonplace in US and that the judiciary plays a greater role in governing public and private affairs.

This is not to say that equivalents do not exist elsewhere. In some countries, mostly common law jurisdictions such as the UK or Australia, the concept of a registered address provided by a third party does exist and we can implement it. But other than in the context of foreign contractual parties, it’s usually not compulsory and is really just a custom that many, but not all, business implement.

And in many countries the concept of a registered address distinct from the main place of business will not be understood by local stakeholders, leading to challenging discussions between local lawyers and their US counterparts.

We know how things work both in the US and abroad and we are experts at “translating” foreign corporate compliance concepts for a US audience and vice-versa.

Get in touch for more information. 

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REGULATORY ALERTS

OMAN: Foreign-owned companies in Oman must now employ at least one Omani citizen within their first year of operation. Existing foreign companies have six months to comply, triggered by renewal of commercial registration or any work permit activity.

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SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka has introduced new beneficial ownership disclosure requirements and several key corporate governance reforms.

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AUSTRALIA: The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) continues to improve its digital process, making it easier and more flexible for users to manage their filings. 

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REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: A 2025 law creates an obligation to declare and update the beneficial owners of Congolese companies. The law defines beneficial owners and outlines all related requirements.

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IRELAND: Under Irish law, companies must have their financial statements audited unless they qualify for, and claim, an exemption.

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TURKEY: The Electronic Commercial Books System was recently amended with a number of categories removed from its scope. The system aims to digitalize corporate record-keeping and standardize practices across companies.

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