vocabulary:
  name: Vistra API Vocabulary
  description: >-
    Vocabulary for the Vistra corporate services API, covering entity management,
    company incorporation, compliance, and corporate governance terminology.
  version: "1.0"
  created: "2026-05-03"
  tags:
    - Compliance
    - Corporate Services
    - Entity Management
    - Legal

terms:
  - term: Incorporation
    definition: >-
      The legal process of forming a new company or other legal entity in a given
      jurisdiction. Vistra's Incorporations API automates the submission of BVI
      incorporation requests including entity details, stakeholder identification,
      and required documentation.
    tags:
      - Core
      - Legal

  - term: British Virgin Islands (BVI)
    definition: >-
      A British Overseas Territory that is one of the world's most popular offshore
      incorporation jurisdictions. BVI Business Companies offer flexible structures,
      low disclosure requirements, and no taxation on profits earned outside the territory.
    tags:
      - Jurisdiction
      - Core

  - term: Business Company
    definition: >-
      The most common BVI entity type used for holding assets, investment holding, and
      international business operations. BVI Business Companies have authorized shares,
      directors, and registered agents but minimal ongoing compliance requirements.
    tags:
      - Entity Type
      - BVI

  - term: Stakeholder
    definition: >-
      An individual or corporate entity with a legal interest in an incorporated company.
      Stakeholder roles include director, shareholder, beneficial owner, and secretary.
    tags:
      - Corporate Governance
      - Core

  - term: Beneficial Owner
    definition: >-
      The natural person who ultimately owns or controls a company, regardless of
      nominee arrangements. BVI law and global AML regulations require identification
      of beneficial owners with more than 25% ownership.
    tags:
      - Compliance
      - KYC/AML

  - term: Registered Agent
    definition: >-
      A licensed professional or company in the jurisdiction that maintains the legal
      registered address for an incorporated entity and receives official correspondence.
      Required for all BVI Business Companies.
    tags:
      - Corporate Services
      - BVI

  - term: Authorized Shares
    definition: >-
      The maximum number of shares that a company is permitted to issue as defined
      in its Memorandum of Association. BVI companies commonly have a standard
      authorization of 50,000 shares.
    tags:
      - Corporate Structure
      - Finance

  - term: Par Value
    definition: >-
      The nominal value assigned to each share as stated in the company's constitutional
      documents. BVI companies commonly use $1.00 USD par value per share.
    tags:
      - Corporate Structure
      - Finance

  - term: Pre-Signed URL
    definition: >-
      A time-limited URL that grants temporary permission to upload a file directly to
      Vistra's document storage (Amazon S3) without requiring direct API authentication.
      Valid for one minute after generation.
    tags:
      - API Pattern
      - Documents

  - term: Entity Management
    definition: >-
      The ongoing administration of a legal entity's corporate records, filings, deadlines,
      and governance actions across one or more jurisdictions. Vistra's Global Expansion
      Platform provides entity management for companies in 45+ jurisdictions.
    tags:
      - Corporate Services
      - Core

  - term: KYC (Know Your Customer)
    definition: >-
      Due diligence process required by anti-money laundering regulations to verify the
      identity of clients, directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners. Supporting
      documents such as passports and utility bills are required for incorporation.
    tags:
      - Compliance
      - Regulation

  - term: Geni
    definition: >-
      Vistra's AI compliance advisor embedded in the Global Expansion Platform that
      answers corporate governance questions and can initiate common corporate actions
      such as updating registered addresses or adding shareholders.
    tags:
      - AI
      - Automation