What is a Protected Cell Company?

A Protected Cell Company (PCC), or segmented legal entity, is not a separate legal form in Liechtenstein, but rather a special organisational structure for legal entities that allows them to divide their assets legally into a core and legally separate segments (cells). The PCC as a whole is a legal entity. The individual segments (cells) do not have their own legal personality but are treated as independent units in terms of assets and liability. A segment’s liabilities can only be settled from the assets of that specific segment. The structure consists, on the one hand, of a core, which manages the overall structure, and, on the other hand, of segments (cells), which contain the assets specifically allocated to them for specific purposes or investors.

A PCC may only be used for the following purposes: 

• Charitable or non-profit purposes (e.g. as an umbrella foundation for various donors)
• Holding company activities: acquisition, management and realisation of shareholdings
• Intellectual property rights: exploitation of patents, trademarks or copyright
• Deposit guarantee schemes in accordance with EEA law