Increase In Offshore Companies Seeking Safer Havens

2019 was a volatile year – Hong Kong protests, Brexit, US-China trade wars, and Trump’s impeachment just to name a few and the start of 2020 was no better – unrest in the Middle-East resulting in rising oil prices, US-China trade deal developments, Coronavirus from China, the Jakarta floods and the Australia Bushfires, and that was only in the first month, and features some which are still not over.

Taking these events in account, 2020 could be more economically impactful than 2019. It’s sensible to assume there will be many more variables that could create uncertainty and challenge businesses this decade.

The Economic Intelligence Unit, the world business leader in global business intelligence, recently published its predictions for 2020, reporting the coming year is likely to be more manageable for China but warns that the broader US-China relationship remains on a course of increasing competition. There also faces uncertainty for the UK and where they stand with the European Union.

In the business world, the EUI say consumer facing sectors remain the main bright spots however the outlook for China’s technology industry is less optimistic.

The unsettling world events will inevitably have effects on other countries and markets; it is no surprise that many companies are taking a more conservative approach since the turn of the decade considering continuing uncertainties in the world.

Offshore jurisdictions have always provided shelters for businesses however with the increase in economic pressure, more businesses are expected to seek havens offshore.

Many believe offshore jurisdictions will increase to provide a haven for international deals, listings, incorporations and restructurings against market uncertainty. This is great news for companies looking to seal deals without restrictions but in an environment with systematic protection in place.

The majority of offshore jurisdictions provide political stability and neutrality, with independent, transparent and business minded governments and legal systems derived from English common law. They also have secure economies without any exchange or investment repatriating controls.

Popular jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands require no accounting or reporting and are experienced in high-profile, cross border transactions and restructurings.

Working in an offshore jurisdiction can simplify some potentially complicated restructuring. There also tax benefits that offshore companies are renowned for.

Operating offshore provides businesses with a much greater degree of flexibility in how they set up their business and offshore regulations continue to evolve with the times to better serve and protect those that operate within them.

The way that an offshore company functions greatly depends on where you incorporate. Panama for instance, allows stakeholders to only be held liable for the amount they invest in the company, protecting stakeholders from significant losses that could result from business failure, unforeseen circumstances and lawsuits.

In addition, the majority of offshore jurisdictions have very strict privacy laws, protecting your investments from outside parties. Depending on the specific jurisdiction you are also able to keep the names of stockholders completely off company records.

For more information on how incorporating an offshore company could benefit you visit our website: SFM.com