A lot of investors are opening holding companies in Malta in order to benefit from the participation exemption regime. Holding companies serve as a great avenue for investors who want to hold assets in Malta or participate in other Maltese companies and yet benefit from the same operations and tax planning arrangements as other Maltese companies.
What is a holding company and what does it do
Malta has a well-evolved financial sector which has contributed to its robust economy over the years. This modernized financial technology business sector, is a product of the country’s proficient labor force and cutting edge IT systems. There has been a tremendous growth of the financial business since its birth in 2010 evidenced by a remarkable growth of 67% in only six years! The first quarter of 2016, marked a staggering 5.3 billion dollars’ worth of the Maltese financial technology businesses.
The Maltese government does not impose any restrictions in regards to the incorporation of offshore companies in the state. Maltese offshore companies are registered companies which operate in Malta but are run by foreign stakeholders. Setting up an offshore company in Malta comes with special benefits, such as lower tax rates as compared to that charged in their native states.
As an entrepreneur, it can be very frustrating to have a brilliant business idea but fail to implement it because of limited funding. To cater for great entrepreneurs with revolutionary ideas, the Maltese government created an agency called Malta Enterprise. The fundamental objective of Malta enterprise is to provide assistance and funding to Maltese high potential start-up companies.
The business environment in Malta is one that has been marked by change and diversification. Malta has expanded from being an agrarian-centric economy into, engineering, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, healthcare, aviation, maritime, electronics, and logistics. This has attracted a vast number of investors from all walks of life.
Malta is one of the most technologically savvy countries and is popular for its quick grasp on new technologies as well as implementation. It's also one of the few countries with smart cities. Being such a progressive country, Malta has attracted many IT investors from around the world and it's one of the best destinations for setting up a virtual office.
