Offshore Corporate Structures
Beyond the trust, a sophisticated asset protection plan often involves the strategic use of corporate entities (for example, LLCs, IBCs & Foundations). These structures provide essential layers of privacy, operational control, and financial flexibility.
Southpac operates as a licensed registered agent in the Cook Islands and Nevis, enabling us to form and manage these entities with the same "white glove" service and institutional authority we apply to our fiduciary services.
Choose Southpac for Control, Privacy & Flexibility
Our corporate structures are designed to meet specific client needs, from managing a global investment portfolio to adding a robust layer of creditor protection to a trust.
Nevis & Cook Islands LLCs
The LLC, particularly the Nevis LLC, is one of the most powerful and flexible asset protection tools in the world. It is frequently used as a key component within a trust structure (e.g., a Cook Islands Trust owns 100% of a Nevis LLC).
This combination provides the best of both worlds: the trust provides ultimate legal protection, while the LLC allows you (as the manager) to maintain day-to-day operational control over the assets.
- Key Feature: Superior “charging order” protection. This means a creditor cannot seize the LLC’s assets or take voting rights; they may only (at best) receive a “charging order” on distributions, which the manager (you) controls.
- Best For: Holding liquid assets, real estate, or operating businesses; separating and insulating different assets from each other; clients who want operational control.
International Business Companies (IBCs)
The IBC is a classic, flexible corporate entity designed for international business and investment. Both the Cook Islands and Nevis offer modern IBC products that are simple to maintain, cost-effective, and ensure high levels of privacy.
- Key Feature: Privacy and simplicity. There is no central register of beneficial ownership, and corporate requirements are streamlined for international use.
- Best For: Acting as a holding company for global investments, facilitating international trade, or for clients in jurisdictions more familiar with a traditional corporate (share-based) structure.
Offshore Foundations
A Foundation is a civil law concept that, like a trust, separates the legal ownership of assets from the founder. It is a powerful tool for asset protection and succession planning, particularly for clients from Europe, South America, and Asia who are more familiar with this structure.
- Key Feature: The Nevis Multiform Foundation is a unique and highly flexible tool. It can be formed to take on the characteristics of a trust, a company, or a partnership, providing unparalleled bespoke structuring options.
- Best For: Clients from civil law jurisdictions, sophisticated succession planning, and holding specific assets with fewer fiduciary responsibilities than a traditional trust.
Why Southpac for Your Corporate Structure Services?
Anyone can register a company. Our value is in the strategic integration of that company into your wider wealth plan. As an institutional authority with decades of experience, we ensure your corporate structure is not just "formed," but is compliant, correctly managed, and serves its ultimate protective purpose.
We also provide professional corporate directors, managers, and secretaries to fulfill all statutory and management roles with our signature 'white glove' diligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Offshore Corporate Structures
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A trust is a relationship for holding assets (a trustee holds assets for a beneficiary). An LLC is a legal entity that can own assets itself. They are most powerful when used together: a trust (for protection) owns an LLC (for control).
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Yes. This is an excellent and very common strategy that combines the strengths of both jurisdictions.
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A trust is a common law concept where a trustee has a strict fiduciary duty to beneficiaries. A Foundation is a civil law entity that has its own legal personality, managed by a council for the benefit of beneficiaries or a specific purpose. A Foundation is often more familiar to clients from non-common-law countries.
Request a Confidential Consultation
Integrating a corporate entity is a strategic decision. We invite you (or your legal counsel) to request a confidential, no-obligation consultation with one of our senior specialists to determine the most appropriate structure for your unique situation.
