A Secure and Elegant Alternative to Traditional Trusts

Designed for families seeking privacy, control, and simplicity in wealth succession — without the complexity of offshore structures.

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A Modern Wealth Succession Structure

Designed for families who value permanence, discretion, and direct ownership.

  • A Swiss Solution

    A family-owned Société Anonyme (SA), governed by Swiss civil law. Fully onshore. Privately held. Globally respected.

  • Built for Generational Wealth

    Designed to manage investments and preserve legacy. Structure and clarity across generations.

  • Trusts Are Being Reconsidered

    Offshore vehicles invite scrutiny and risk. Families now demand privacy, simplicity, and control.

  • Control Without Complexity

    No trustees. No offshore entanglements. Ownership stays with the family — always.

How It Works

  1. Set Up the Company

    Designed for families who value permanence, discretion, and direct ownership.

  2. Appoint Shareholders & Directors

    Define ownership and control by selecting family members or trusted individuals as shareholders and directors.

  3. Transfer or Loan Assets

    Assets are contributed or loaned to the company, offering flexibility for tax planning and future restructuring.

  4. Define Roles & Intentions

    A shareholder agreement or letter of instruction clarifies governance, succession wishes, and decision-making protocols.

  5. Begin Operations

    The company is now ready to hold, manage, and grow wealth — with ongoing administration handled in a clear, structured way.

Advantages Over Trusts

Control and Privacy

Trust Structure

  • Trustee controls
  • Settlor must give up control
  • Trust deed needed
  • Trust protector often needed

Swiss Company

  • Founder owns and directs
  • Shareholder retains legal power
  • Simple corporate statutes
  • No protector required

Tax, Succession, and Flexibility

Trust Structure

  • Irrevocable funding
  • Undefined taxation
  • Distributions may be taxed
  • Inheritance via trust is complex

Swiss Company

  • Loans can be repaid
  • Swiss corporate tax rate
  • Loan repayments are not
  • Share transfer in will is simple

Why Switzerland?

  • Stable, civil law jurisdiction with deep legal traditions
  • Globally respected - not classified as offshore
  • Robust legal and banking infrastructure
  • Strong data privacy and confidentiality
  • Low regulatory burden and ongoing costs

Who Should Consider This?

  • Families looking to exit outdated trust structures
  • Civil law residents in Europe, Latin America, or Asia
  • High-net-worth individuals seeking compliant privacy
  • Family offices, estate planners, and legal advisors

Strategic Features

  • Use shareholder loans to reduce wealth tax exposure
  • Acquire Swiss companies with tax loss carryforwards
  • Avoid complex trust dissolutions or restructures
  • Company secretary maintains share register
  • Convert loans into capital reserves over time
  • Stepwise loan forgiveness to optimize inheritance
  • Share register is not publicly available

Contact Us

Our service is delivered exclusively through Dryden ICS SA, a Swiss firm of Chartered Accountants based in Geneva. As specialists in private investment entities for international families, we provide a refined alternative to traditional trust services. With Swiss société anonyme vehicles at the core, our approach prioritizes legal clarity, privacy, and operational control — tailored to the expectations of high-net-worth individuals and family offices worldwide.

Your First Point of Contact is Nick Dryden, Managing Partner, Dryden ICS SA, a British and Swiss Chartered Accountant, and Swiss resident for over 30 years.

Whether you're exploring the transition from a trust structure or starting fresh, Nick is your direct line to tailored, intelligent structuring advice.

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