The Austrian private foundation as a property holding structure

High net worth families wish to structure their wealth in a manner to protect its substance and revenue, to avoid conflicts in the family in case of succession, in particular preserve the family business, manage the risks which may arise from divorce and maintenance claims, and, last but not least, protect the assets against destructive litigation and insolvency of one or the other of the family enterprises. This article reviews the capability of the Austrian private foundation as a for-profit structure without owners or shareholders to manage these risks, protect these assets, and other aspects including confidentiality and tax efficiency.