The business of offering trust services, as it is known in The Netherlands – that pioneered it, has grown to become a significant professional services sector.

In The Netherlands the trust industry is supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank NV (DNB), the central bank of The Netherlands, and is obliged to comply with the Act on the Supervision of Trust Offices (ASTO).

The ASTO entered into force in 2004, and introduces direct supervision of all trust offices.

It focuses primarily on promoting the integrity of the Dutch financial system in general, and the regulation of the trust sector in particular.

It does so on the basis of two pillars. The ASTO imposes requirements on operational management and organizational aspects of trust offices. And it requires that policymakers of trust offices are assessed for trustworthiness and expertise.

Service providers, that meet statutory requirements on the integrity, expertise, and sound operational management will obtain a license from De Nederlandsche Bank NV, be registered with De Nederlandsche Bank NV, and may render trust services.

BK (Netherlands) BV has been granted an unconditioned license.

For more information about the licensing procedure, the text of the ASTO, and other applicable legislation and regulations, please contact De Nederlandsche Bank NV:

t        +31 20 52 49 111

f        +31 20 52 42 500

e        info@dnb.nl

The list of licensed trust offices is provided at the internet site of De Nederlandsche Bank NV: www.dnb.nl.