In the Matter of the X Trusts [2021] SC (Bda) 72 Civ (7 September 2021) Assistant Justice Dr Ian R.C. Kawaley of the Supreme Court of Bermuda has handed down significant guidance to assist in the understanding of this important relationship in offshore trusts ...
In this briefing, we will review the implications of the Law for property transactions in Jersey. Tax on purchase of residential properties which are not used as a main residence The key implication of the Law is that stamp duty (and equivalent land taxes such as land transactions tax and enveloped property transactions tax) on acquisitions of domestic residential property which will not be the purchaser's main residence will be increased ...
It was uncertain, however, whether this ancient time period extended to third party claims but a recent case before the Master of the Royal Court has now clarified this area of law. Facts The plaintiff brought a claim in tort and contract against three defendant doctors, for their alleged failings in the plaintiff’s care, which resulted in the plaintiff being diagnosed with a stroke in 2016 ...
Legal service providers (LSPs) in Bermuda are encouraged to contribute to the development and implementation of new and existing legislation in response to the ever-evolving needs of their clients ...
The appointment of provisional liquidators by the Cayman Court is a powerful and valuable tool in the right circumstances. However, in a series of recent cases, the Court has underscored the high hurdles that must be met and emphasised that an order to appoint liquidators must always be viewed as a serious step that requires a heavy and onerous evidential burden on those who seek such orders ...
Nowadays, most funds formed in Guernsey tend to be for the institutional or high net worth individual markets, with hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, private equity and property funds being especially popular. Guernsey is particularly keen to attract high quality hedge fund business. Since 2003, the GFSC has provided guidance setting out a more relaxed framework for the operation of hedge funds, which included waivers of the various fund rules in four key areas ...
Heather Venture Holdings Ltd and Tapir Holdings Ltd list on Bermuda Stock Exchange The Companies are entities incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and have received the BSX's approval for the listing of 44,502,264 ordinary shares respectively ("Listing Shares"). The Listings have been made as part of a wider transaction, which involved the declaration of a dividend in specie by Impellam Group plc, with such dividend in specie being the Listing Shares ...
Introduction The ‘golden thread’ of modified universalism in cross border insolvency has long been an aspiration, rather than a rule. [1] The common law concepts of recognition and assistance play a key role in achieving that aspiration. In recent years these concepts have been affirmed but scaled back, by decisions such as that in Singularis Holdings Limited v PricewaterhouseCoopers ...
It is essential that directors determine whether they are caught by the Director Registration Regime and, if so, familiarise themselves with its requirements and register themselves in advance of the 1 October 2023 registration deadline. What is the Six Directorship Exemption? Acting as a director of a company or incorporated body (whether incorporated in or under the laws of the Bailiwick of Guernsey or elsewhere) by way of business[1] is a regulated activity under the Fiduciaries Law ...
Purpose of the new legislation The new legislation is intended to achieve three objectives, to: promote accountability, integrity and public confidence in the administration and management of the charitable sector in Guernsey; meet international standards aimed at preventing the third sector from being abused for criminal purposes; and give comfort to donors that their donations will be used to achieve the purposes of the charity ...
An incoming Manco needs Guernsey Financial Services Commission (“GFSC”) consent to migrate to Guernsey as well as a licence to conduct fund management under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2020 (the “POI Law”). The fast track regime can be used to combine these two processes within 10 business days or alternatively the licencing of a newly incorporated Guernsey entity within 10 business days ...
Guernsey: an ideal domicile for deal-by-deal structures A recent article in the Financial Times (Private equity turns to new fundraising tactics in tough market, 21 February 2024) highlights a growing trend we have been seeing for some time: bespoke structures set up for single asset (deal-by-deal) acquisitions ...
Guernsey: an ideal domicile for continuation funds Guernsey provides an ideal domicile for continuation funds, with proportionate, principle-based regulation, and a neutral tax environment, facilitating quick-to-market establishments and competitive ongoing costs ...
Contents Legal framework Security Restructuring Insolvency Cross-border/Groups Liability risk The COVID-19 pandemic Other Trends and predictions Tips and traps Legal Framework What domestic legislation governs restructuring and insolvency matters in your jurisdiction? Parts XXI to XXIV of the Companies (Guernsey) Law 2008, as amended, contain the main statutory provisions relating to corporate insolvencies and reorganisations of Guernsey companies ...
ESG The Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) ran its Sustainable Finance Week in September and announced three initiatives that came into force from 20 September. The Natural Capital Fund Regime was launched and allows a regulatory designation for biodiversity and natural capital projects that positively contribute and/or reduce harm to the natural world. The regime has arguably more stringent criteria than those for the Guernsey Green Fund Regime ...
This guide provides an overview of the following: The growth of GPUTs GPUT trustees What is a GPUT? Regulation of GPUTs in Guernsey Collective Investment Schemes (Funds) Introduction As a politically stable and tax neutral jurisdiction with over 40 years accumulated experience as an international finance centre, Guernsey has gained a strong reputation as a prime location in which to establish investment structures of all descriptions including a large number of property funds
With the introduction of foundations as an alternative type of structure to companies, the trustee can be formed as a private trust foundations (“PTF”) instead of a PTC, offering increased choice to the client. To help guide this choice, this briefing note considers key issues relating to the establishment and use of a PTC or a PTF in the context of private wealth management. References to “PTVs” are to both PTCs and PTFs ...
One solution to this issue is for pension funds to transfer longevity risk to the reinsurance market. Such a transfer can be attractive for both parties. From the pension fund’s perspective, a life reinsurer is often an attractive counterparty, both because of its deep understanding of the nature of the risk being transferred, and because it can provide a balance sheet big enough to assume a meaningful amount of risk from the fund ...
Guernsey Litigation Guides 2024 (Chambers) CONTENTS General Litigation funding Initiating a lawsuit Pre-trial proceedings Discovery Injunctive relief Trials and hearings Settlement Damages and judgment Appeal Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Arbitration Outlook GENERAL General Characteristics of the Legal System The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency ...
CONTENTS General Litigation funding Initiating a lawsuit Pre-trial proceedings Discovery Injunctive relief Trials and hearings Settlement Damages and judgment Appeal Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Arbitration Outlook and COVID-19 GENERAL General Characteristics of the Legal System The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency ...
Guernsey investment funds update Q1 2024 Guernsey funds up Q4 2023 The total net asset value of Guernsey funds at the end of Q4 2023 was c. US$368.2 billion, an increase of c. US$3.6 billion (+1.0%) over the quarter. Guernsey closed-ended funds increased over the quarter by just under c. US$3.1 billion (+1.0%) to c. US$305.2 billion. The Guernsey-domiciled open-ended sector increased over the quarter by just under c. US$638 million (+1.0%) to c. US$63 billion ...
Guernsey investment funds update - Q4 2023 Changes to the requirements for individuals acting as a director As noted in our previous update, on 8 July 2023 new regulations to The Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Businesses and Company Directors, etc (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (the “Fiduciaries Law”) came into operation, introducing additional exemptions from the need to obtain a personal licence pursuant to the Fiduciaries Law ...
Background On 15 July 2021 the States of Deliberation (Guernsey's parliament) approved the Income Tax (Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (the "Ordinance") which makes a number of important amendments to Guernsey's Income Tax Law ...
Guernsey insurance mergers and acquisitions (M&A) Our specialist insurance mergers and acquisitions (M&A) team have advised on a number of other high-profile insurance industry transactions, including: the sale of Humboldt Re by the Credit Suisse Pension Fund; the acquisition of Kelvin Re by Humboldt Re, and the subsequent merger to create Marco Re; the acquisition of Old Mutual Guernsey by Northstar Bermuda; the acquisition by Islands Insurance Group of Hepburns Insurance, incl
Guernsey Insurance M&A Our specialist insurance M&A team have advised on a number of other high-profile insurance industry transactions, including: the sale of Humboldt Re by the Credit Suisse Pension Fund; the acquisition of Kelvin Re by Humboldt Re, and the subsequent merger to create Marco Re; the acquisition of Old Mutual Guernsey by Northstar Bermuda; the acquisition by Islands Insurance Group of Hepburns Insurance, including its operations in both Jersey and Guernsey; the
