The jargon-heavy lexicon of offshore finance can baffle the casual observer, but the reasons why many investors choose to use the shelter provided by many leading offshore jurisdictions are often reassuringly simple. Yes, institutional and individual investors are, generally speaking, sophisticated clients. But the reason why they put their money in certain jurisdictions can often be summed up in two words: pack mentality.
Decades ago, two wealthy Hong Kong entrepreneurs opted to use a British Virgin Islands (BVI) entity for a business venture, with much success: word got around and Hong Kong businessmen followed in their droves.
