There is a large amount of jurisprudence on setting aside a trust on the grounds of mistake. Do the same principles apply to foundations?
An offshore Court (B and C v D, E, F and others [2020] JRC 169) has recently considered whether or not transactions whereby a founder dedicated assets to a foundation and the establishment of the foundation itself could be set aside on the grounds of mistake.
The case involved a tax planning scheme. Contrary to the tax advice received prior to the establishment of the foundation, the scheme resulted in significant tax liabilities for the family that had established the foundation.
The Court found that although the dedications made to the foundation could be set aside, the foundation itself could not be set aside.
In considering the dedications by the founders, the Court applied the following previously established test:
- Was there a mistake on the part of the donor?
- Would the donor not have entered into the transaction “but for” the mistake?
- Was the mistake of so serious a character as to render it unjust on the part of the donor to retain the property?
The Court concluded that the founders were not aware of the tax consequences of the establishment and the subsequent dedications to the foundation.
The Court highlighted that if they were to set aside the foundation, then there would be no entity able to transfer the assets back to the founders. Further, the Court considered that, if the foundation was set aside, it could be argued that the assets may revert to the Crown.
Under Isle of Man law, an entry in the register of the name of a foundation is conclusive evidence that the foundation was established and that the requirements of the Foundations Act 2011 were complied with in respect of the establishment of the foundation. The public rely on this register as proof of a foundation's existence
The effect of establishing of a foundation is the creation of a legal person which is capable of suing and being sued and prosecuted in its own name and holds its assets for its objects.
A foundation can be distinguished from a trust on the basis that a trust is not a legal entity and the trustee does not hold both the legal and beneficial title to the assets it holds. Whereas a foundation owns the assets it holds both legally and beneficially.
The judgment in B and C v D, E, F and others confirms the treatment of a foundation as akin to a corporate entity which will provide some comfort for third parties when contracting with foundations.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
