10 Leaves

Comprehensive Guide to Foundations in the ADGM


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This episode is also available as a blog post: https://10leaves.ae/publications/adgm/adgm-foundations-regime

ADGM Foundations Regime provides a viable alternative to trusts for legacy planning and financial structuring. ADGM offers foundations incorporated under Common-Law for the first time in the region.

What are Foundations?

A foundation is governed by its Charter, which is a publicly available document, and By-laws, which are private to the Foundation. The affairs of an ADGM Foundation are managed by the members of a Council and may be supervised by a Guardian.

Foundations provide a mechanism to consolidate holdings of various assets (shares, real property, intellectual property, royalties, etc.) into a single holding entity. This allows for clarity on the transfer of assets during a succession process.

Foundations operate like common law trusts, with an important distinction – they are legally incorporated with a distinct legal personality. In effect, they have features common to a company. They can hold assets, but cannot issue shares or carry out commercial activities.

Foundations are operationally and tax-efficient. Much like a ‘Letter of Wishes” in a trust vehicle, a Foundation’s Charter and By-Laws help make the succession process much less challenging.

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