This product offers clients and advisers an alternative to using trust structures to hold and manage their assets. A foundation may not however carry on a trade, and for this purpose a limited liability company is desirable in addition to the foundation.
Charitable or philanthropic purposes
Retaining and preserving specific assets
Succession planning to enable family assets and businesses to benefit successive generations
Holding an asset, such as a company, to carry out a specific purpose
To avoid the disclosure of information to beneficiaries, to which they would be entitled if the assets were held in a trust
To avoid chain indemnities as would be the case for a trust changing trusteeship
Foundations have several benefits:
Can be constructed in a way that affords clients greater control over assets, unlike traditional discretionary trusts
Simplify and enhance the transparency of wealth-holding structures
Are more widely known and accepted by those clients from civil-law jurisdictions where the concept of trusts is not well recognised or accepted.