Anyone have any suggestions on how to find a Thai partner? I have a business plan and enough funding to fully capitalize the company myself. I don’t know/trust any Thais with enough capital well enough to ask them to join me as a 51% shareholder. Is there anyway to structure the company's ownership so that I can maintain control, even if I have to put up all the capital myself? If so, how do I find a Thai or Thais who are willing to be shareholder(s) without control? Finally, is this sort of thing a wise thing to do -- putting up all the capital but owning less than 1/2 of the company. even if I have control?--(i.e., what sorts of things could go wrong)?

Thank you for any advice!

In your case - as you describe it - the standard procedure would be to contact a lawyer. They'll provide you with 6 "ghost-shareholders" (any Thai company needs 7 partners) and set up the company-structure such that - even though you can only hold 49% of the shares - you'll have the majority of shareholder votes and you'll be the only director --- thus have complete control.

Sounds like a job for Sunbelt Asia!!

Anyone have any suggestions on how to find a Thai partner?

Stand on the corner and wave money

Call Sunbelt Asia. 02-642-0213.

Call Sunbelt Asia. 02-642-0213.

Well strictly speaking any lawyer can set this up for you, but I know that Sunbelt do this as a standard service for a pretty decent price which might be hard to match elsewhere. So contact them, and a few other decent law firms - never hurts to compare prices - I have done something similar recently and found Sunbelt (at least for the particular situation I am in) to be cheaper - they specialise in these sorts of company structures, so I suspect they know the quickest most cost effective way to do it. And it is a fairly standard thing.

If you do have actual directors, they may be worthwhile in terms of their connections and what they can add. I have been appointed as director of a few companies simply for what I could deliver in terms of connections and so forth, and I know not that many important people; imagine what a more highly positioned Thai could do for your business in the ideal world. If not much, then ghost directors are fine. It quite a lot, then it may be worthwhile parting with a small amount of equity to get a decent director. Equity is precious however, so do so at your own risk, and get concrete guarantees from the Thai person involved that they will deliver what you ask.

For property and any other dodges using a company to acheive personal objectives, be aware you may be investigated; however it sounds like you have a solid plan and proper business, so this advice probably does not apply.

If you've planned and have good idea, then stick to it and best of luck for the future!

Many thanks for all of your good advice!

I've been working with a law firm on a related issue, so for now will stick with that firm. However, Sunbelt gets quite good reviews on this site, so will definitely give them a call should the current firm not be able to help with this issue.

Misty