Assets
Offshore Gold & Bullion Storage
Allocated bullion storage integrated with your structure.
Overview
Physical gold held in politically stable, legally sound, geographically diversified jurisdictions is one of the few genuinely non-correlated stores of value available to international investors. Unlike financial assets — equities, bonds, derivatives, bank deposits — allocated physical gold held in a segregated vault outside the banking system cannot be subject to bail-in, cannot be frozen by a financial institution's counterparty risk, and cannot be diluted by monetary policy. Its value as a portfolio anchor and insurance component against systemic financial and geopolitical risk has been demonstrated through every major financial crisis since the abandonment of Bretton Woods. HPT Group provides introductions to audited, allocated, LBMA-standard bullion storage providers in Singapore, Switzerland, the UAE and the Channel Islands — integrated with your offshore company and trust structures for seamless succession, financing and liquidation capability. Our advisory is not simply vault selection: we design the ownership structure — personal, corporate or trust-held — to maximise creditor protection, succession efficiency and tax treatment on disposal, and to ensure the bullion position is fully integrated with your broader asset protection and estate planning framework. Our clients include family offices allocating 5–15% of portfolio to physical precious metals as a hard-asset anchor, HNWI individuals seeking geopolitical insurance against currency debasement and financial system instability, internationally mobile entrepreneurs holding physical gold as a portable, jurisdiction-agnostic store of value, and trustees holding allocated gold on behalf of trust beneficiaries as part of a diversified trust portfolio.
What's Included
- Allocated bullion accounts
- Singapore and Swiss vault access
- Company-held gold structures
- Segregated storage and insurance
- Liquidity and exit planning
Typical Engagement Timeline
From first contact to
fully implemented structure.
Timelines vary by engagement complexity and jurisdiction. The steps below reflect a typical instruction from initial application through to active implementation.
Day 1
Application
Submit your application and structured intake form. We review your situation, confirm fit, and agree scope and fees in writing before any work begins.
Days 3–5
Diagnosis Call
A 90-minute senior strategy call to cover your current structure, residency, revenue flows, risk exposure and goals. All relevant documents reviewed in advance.
Days 10–21
Blueprint Delivery
Written memorandum delivered covering current position analysis, proposed structure with diagrams, jurisdiction rationale, and implementation sequencing.
Weeks 3–18
Implementation
Entity formation, banking introductions, registered agent setup, compliance calendar and substance design — all coordinated and managed by the HPT senior team.
Day 1
Application
Submit your application and structured intake form. We review your situation, confirm fit, and agree scope and fees in writing before any work begins.
Days 3–5
Diagnosis Call
A 90-minute senior strategy call to cover your current structure, residency, revenue flows, risk exposure and goals. All relevant documents reviewed in advance.
Days 10–21
Blueprint Delivery
Written memorandum delivered covering current position analysis, proposed structure with diagrams, jurisdiction rationale, and implementation sequencing.
Weeks 3–18
Implementation
Entity formation, banking introductions, registered agent setup, compliance calendar and substance design — all coordinated and managed by the HPT senior team.
Capabilities
What this service covers.
Allocated Bullion Accounts
Unlike unallocated bullion accounts — which represent a general creditor claim against a bank or dealer, with no entitlement to specific identified metal — allocated storage means specific, serially numbered, assay-certified bars are held in your name in a segregated, dedicated vault compartment. In the event of the storage provider's insolvency, allocated metal is not part of the provider's estate. We introduce only to providers offering LBMA Good Delivery standard gold, independently audited quarterly, with comprehensive all-risk insurance covering full replacement value, immediate settlement on buyback instructions, and documented chain of custody for each bar from refinery to vault.
Corporate Gold Holdings
Holding bullion through a BVI Business Company, Cayman exempted company or Singapore private limited company — rather than personally — provides beneficial owner confidentiality through the corporate structure, succession by share transfer without probate in the storage jurisdiction, potential capital gains tax efficiency (the corporate jurisdiction may impose no tax on disposal, and the exit tax treatment depends on the company's jurisdiction rather than the metal's physical location), and the ability to collateralise the gold position as a corporate asset for credit facilities. We structure the holding company, manage its formation and banking, and integrate it with the storage account documentation.
Trust-Integrated Vaulting
For maximum asset protection, physical gold can be held by an offshore trust through an underlying holding company — placing the bullion beyond the reach of future personal creditors while preserving the beneficial owner's access through the protector mechanism and letter of wishes. A Cook Islands Trust holding a BVI company holding allocated gold in Singapore represents one of the most creditor-protected physical asset structures available. The trustee can liquidate the gold and distribute proceeds on the protector's instruction. We design and implement these fully integrated trust-corporate-vault structures and coordinate documentation across all three layers.
Financing Against Gold Holdings
Allocated, LBMA-grade gold held in qualifying vaults can be pledged as collateral for credit facilities with select private banks and commodity lending specialists. Typical loan-to-value ratios of 50–70% of spot value allow meaningful liquidity to be extracted from the gold position without triggering a disposal and without losing the long-term hold position. Lending against gold is non-recourse (secured on the gold alone) in most structures, and interest costs may be tax-deductible at the holding company level. We introduce to private banks — in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Singapore — with established gold lending programmes and transparent documentation.
Jurisdictions Covered
6+ jurisdictions.
Directly advised and operationally active.
Jurisdictions Covered
Where we operate and advise.
Singapore
Asia's premier allocated bullion storage hub. Investment-grade gold is exempt from Goods and Services Tax (GST) under the Goods and Services Tax Act since 2012 (Investment Precious Metals exemption). LBMA-accredited storage facilities: Brinks Singapore, Malca-Amit, Le Freeport Singapore (Freeport zone). MAS-regulated financial system. No gold confiscation history. Strong rule of law under the Singapore Constitution. Singapore bullion banks active in LBMA clearing. Ideal for Asia-Pacific investors and those with Singapore-based holding companies.
Switzerland
The historical benchmark for private gold storage. Zurich Freihafen (Zurich Free Port) and Zollfreilager provide VAT-deferred storage in customs bonded facilities. Swiss vault operators: Degussa Goldhandel, Viamat (Zürich), Pro Aurum, VIA MAT International. Swiss Federal Customs Administration provides legal protection for assets in bonded warehouses. No Swiss withholding tax on gold stored for non-resident account holders. Swiss Political neutrality and centuries of private banking tradition. Cantonal banking vaults available for private bank clients.
UAE (Dubai)
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is the world's largest physical gold trading hub, responsible for over USD 70 billion in annual gold trade. Storage providers at DMCC: Transguard, Brinks Middle East, Malca-Amit Dubai. VAT: 0% on investment-grade gold under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 (VAT Act) and Cabinet Decision No. 26 of 2018. Strong airport and logistics infrastructure for physical delivery. DMCC-member status provides a regulated framework for gold holding entities. No currency controls and USD-pegged AED.
Channel Islands (Jersey & Guernsey)
Jersey and Guernsey provide European-timezone LBMA-standard allocated storage integrated with the islands' private banking and trust infrastructure. No GST or VAT on investment-grade bullion in Jersey or Guernsey. Storage facilities linked to local private banks and trust companies. Particularly well-suited for UK-connected investors wanting European storage outside the EU's regulatory perimeter and outside the UK for estate planning purposes. Strong legal frameworks and regulatory oversight by JFSC and GFSC respectively.
Cayman Islands
Caribbean Free Trade Zone storage with no import duties, no sales tax and no capital gains tax applicable to bullion holdings. Brinks Cayman provides LBMA-standard storage integrated with Cayman holding company structures. Particularly convenient for investors with Cayman fund or SPV structures who want the gold holding in the same jurisdictional framework as their other Cayman assets. Strong legal infrastructure under Cayman Islands law and CIMA-supervised financial institutions.
Liechtenstein
Private vaulting services in Liechtenstein are integrated with the jurisdiction's foundation and private banking infrastructure — providing a European civil law framework for gold ownership through a Liechtenstein Stiftung or Anstalt. VP Bank and LGT provide custody and private vault services. VAT: 0% on investment-grade bullion under Liechtenstein VAT Act consistent with EU VAT directive treatment. Strong confidentiality under Liechtenstein Persons and Companies Act. Particularly suitable for trust-integrated structures where the Liechtenstein foundation holds the gold directly.
How It Works
From instruction to implementation.
Structure Design
We assess your asset protection objectives, succession requirements, tax residency and creditor exposure to determine whether personal, corporate or trust-held gold best serves your overall objectives. We consider: the capital gains tax treatment of gold disposal in your residency jurisdiction and how corporate or trust holding affects that treatment; the succession mechanism (share transfer vs direct ownership vs trust distribution) that best fits your estate plan; the financing aspirations (corporate or allocated account holding is typically required for gold-backed lending); and the jurisdictional combination that provides optimal creditor protection and storage security.
Provider Introduction
We introduce you to LBMA-accredited, independently audited, comprehensively insured allocated storage providers in your chosen jurisdiction — with competitive all-in pricing (storage plus insurance) typically 0.12–0.35% per annum depending on volume, provider and jurisdiction. We provide a written comparison of providers covering: storage fee structure, insurance coverage and policy terms, minimum holding requirements, audit frequency and format, buyback liquidity and spread, physical delivery terms, and onboarding documentation requirements. We do not receive commissions from storage providers — our introduction is based entirely on quality and fit.
Account Opening
We manage the storage account onboarding process — preparing the KYC documentation pack (certified passport copies, proof of address, source of funds narrative for the purchase proceeds, UBO documentation for corporate or trust accounts), reviewing the storage agreement terms, confirming insurance coverage adequacy, and coordinating the initial transfer of funds or metal into the account. For clients purchasing new gold, we advise on market timing and execution — using LBMA benchmark pricing through a spot or forward contract with a recognised bullion dealer — rather than retail mark-ups.
Ongoing Management
Annual audit confirmations and insurance renewal verification, storage fee optimisation as volume and provider relationships evolve, integration with any trust or company restructuring as your circumstances change, periodic rebalancing advice if the gold allocation grows significantly as a proportion of overall portfolio, coordination of any physical delivery instructions if the client requires delivery to an alternative jurisdiction, and tax reporting advice on any disposal transactions — including the capital gains computation in your residency jurisdiction and any withholding obligations at the holding company level.
Comparable Client Outcomes
What clients have achieved with this service.
Anonymised and generalised for confidentiality. All outcomes reflect real engagements. Results vary by individual circumstances, jurisdiction and timing.
- UK family office
£1.2M allocated gold position transferred from domestic storage to a Singapore vault within a company-held structure — estate planning position clarified and annual insurance cost reduced by 40%.
- German HNWI
Swiss private vault account opened and integrated with an existing BVI structure — client received full allocated storage certificates and independent audit report within 4 weeks of instruction.
- UAE entrepreneur
15 kg gold bullion acquisition structured through a company account in a zero-tax jurisdiction — full segregation, named storage and exit liquidity pathway documented in the engagement memorandum.
Key Questions
What clients ask us.
Straight answers to the questions that come up in every engagement. If your question is not here, ask us directly.
Ask a Question →Allocated gold in jurisdictions with strong rule of law — Singapore, Switzerland, Jersey, Liechtenstein — is well-protected from foreign government reach. Singapore has never confiscated gold. Switzerland's neutrality and the legal protection of the Zurich Free Port bonded zone provide strong structural protections. No storage jurisdiction provides absolute protection against its own government — Executive Order 6102 in the US (1933) and similar historical confiscations demonstrate that political risk is real even in stable jurisdictions. For holdings above USD 1,000,000, we recommend geographic diversification across at least two jurisdictions in different geopolitical spheres.
Tax treatment depends on your personal residency, the holding structure, and the location of the gold. UAE residents: 0% on personal or corporate holdings. UK residents: capital gains tax at 10–20% (basic or higher rate) on personal holdings, with the annual CGT exemption (GBP 3,000 for 2025/26) available. UK corporation tax (25%) applies to gains in a UK company. Corporate holdings in BVI, Cayman or Singapore: 0% corporate tax at the holding company level, but personal tax on distribution depends on your residency. Swiss private individuals: no federal capital gains tax on movable assets (federal level — cantonal rules vary). We provide a written tax analysis for your specific position before any disposal.
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery standard is the globally recognised benchmark for investment-grade gold bars. Good Delivery gold bars must be 99.5% minimum fineness, weigh between 350–430 troy ounces (approximately 10.9–13.4 kg) per standard bar, bear a serial number, refinery mark, year of manufacture and assay mark, and be produced by a refinery on the LBMA Good Delivery List. Smaller denominations (1 kg, 100g, 1 oz coins) can also be stored but are not Good Delivery standard. We introduce only to storage providers holding exclusively LBMA Good Delivery or equivalent recognised standard metal.
Yes. All allocated storage providers we work with permit physical delivery — the gold is, after all, specifically your identified metal. Delivery arrangements vary: some providers deliver globally via specialist logistics and armoured transport (Brinks, Malca-Amit); others deliver only within their local jurisdiction or to specific receiving vaults. Physical delivery requires advance notice (typically 5–10 business days), insurance coverage for transit, and customs documentation if crossing international borders (import duties and VAT implications must be assessed for the receiving jurisdiction before any delivery instruction is given). We coordinate the logistics and customs advice for any physical delivery instruction.
This is an investment question, not a structuring question — and the answer depends on your overall portfolio, risk tolerance, liquidity needs and investment horizon. From a structuring perspective, we advise on physical gold as an asset class alongside other hard assets (real estate, private equity) that sit outside the financial system's counterparty risk. Common allocations in family office portfolios range from 5% to 15% of total assets. The structuring — whether personal, corporate or trust-held — is independent of the allocation decision and should be determined by your protection and succession objectives rather than the size of the holding.
Integration works through the ownership chain: the allocated storage account is opened in the name of the holding company (e.g., a BVI IBC); the holding company is held by an offshore trust (e.g., a Cook Islands International Trust); the trust deed and letter of wishes govern what the trustee does with the gold in the event of the settlor's death, incapacity or a creditor attack. The vault operator requires KYC and account documentation from the holding company, not from the individual. The trustee's authority over the company shares — and therefore indirectly over the gold — provides the asset protection and succession mechanism. We coordinate the vault account terms, the company constitutional documents and the trust documentation to ensure the chain operates correctly.
Important Notes
- —Never concentrate more than you are comfortable having temporarily inaccessible in a single jurisdiction. Political risk is real even in historically stable locations — geographic diversification across two or three jurisdictions in different geopolitical spheres is prudent for holdings above USD 500,000.
- —Storage fees for allocated LBMA-standard gold range from 0.10% to 0.40% per annum of spot value depending on provider, volume and jurisdiction. All-risk insurance is typically included in the quoted storage fee for reputable providers — confirm this before signing any storage agreement.
- —Physical gold generates no income and no yield. It is not an income-producing asset — it is a store of value and a portfolio diversifier. Consider the opportunity cost of the non-income-producing allocation relative to income-generating alternatives as part of your overall portfolio construction.
- —VAT treatment of investment-grade gold varies by jurisdiction. Singapore: GST-exempt for qualifying investment gold. UAE: 0% VAT. Switzerland: VAT-deferred in Free Port, no VAT on export. UK: VAT-exempt for investment gold under VATA 1994 Schedule 9 Group 15. EU: exempt under EU VAT Directive Article 346. Confirm current VAT position before any purchase or importation.
- —Gold-backed lending (pledging allocated gold as collateral for credit facilities) requires the storage facility agreement to permit the creation of security interests over the stored metal. Not all storage agreements permit pledging — confirm this before structuring any financing arrangement around the gold holding.
- —Advisory fees from £1,500 for bullion structuring and storage introductions, depending on holding size, number of jurisdictions, complexity of holding structure and whether trust or corporate integration is required.
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