Conyers has extensive experience, acting as Cayman Islands counsel to several hundred significant asset management groups and investment funds, many of which are complex multi-fund structures, ranging from CIMA-registered hedge funds toprivate equity and venture capital funds.
Legal Services to Establish your Fund in the Cayman Islands
Working with Conyers’ fund advisers brings a level of service that goes beyond the initial set-up of your fund. We guarantee a personal approach that better understands your business objectives. With a team of fund specialists that combines decades of experience, we provide clients with the highest quality legal advice. Our team acts as offshore legal advisers for international and Cayman-based fund management houses and provides innovative solutions and advice to a variety of fund service providers including banks, administrators, custodians and managers.
Advantages of Cayman Islands Investment Funds
Cayman Islands is at the forefront of the investment funds sector largely because of the structural and operational advantages it offers, including:
- Political and economic stability
- No exchange controls restrictions
- Reputable professional service providers
- Abundance of expertise in the investment fund space
- Flexible legislation
- Cayman regulators are very approachable, flexible, innovative and efficient
- Cayman’s investment fund fee structure is globally competitive, which benefits the manager and the investor with respect to the launch and ongoing operation/ maintenance of the fund.
- Cayman is on the OECD “White List” and has signed tax information exchange agreements (TIEA) with 19 countries
- Tax neutrality
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Cayman Investment Funds
TheMutual Funds Actgoverns the majority of hedge funds domiciled in the Cayman Islands. Our advisers are well-versed in this legislation, as well as theCayman Islands Companies Actand can guide you through the process and the documentation requirements for establishing your fund in the appropriate category.
Open-ended/Regulated Mutual Funds
Open-ended funds that meet certain criteria of theMutual Funds Actand are thus subject to regulation under CIMA‘s Investment and Securities Division may qualify to conduct business as ahedge fund,licensed mutual fund, anadministered mutual fund, aregistered fundor amaster fund.
Closed-ended/Exempted Funds
For a closed-ended fund, an investor’s investment is tied-in for the entire life of the fund with no ability for them to redeem. A closed-ended fund is therefore suitable for investments which require a longer timeline over which to mature, such as private equity, venture capital, real estate or infrastructure investments. Closed-ended funds are not regulated in the Cayman Islands. They are a popular choice amongprivate equityandventure capitalfirms who operate internationally.
Exempted funds are mutual funds that will not be required to be regulated by CIMA where there are no more than 15 investors, the majority of whom are capable of appointing and removing the directors of the fund.
This type of fund may conduct business without obtaining a license under theMutual Funds Act, without appointing a licensed mutual fund administrator and without filing any papers with CIMA. However, a private mutual fund may elect to be treated as a regulated mutual fund.
Exempted Cayman Islands Investment Funds Vehicles
A Cayman Islands investment fund may follow one of the structures set out below. We can advise you on the most appropriate structure for your situation.
Exempted Limited Partnership (ELP)
A popular structure withprivate equity funds, theELPoffers a speed-to-market that makes it efficient and effective when establishing in the Cayman Islands. The ELP can consist of one or more general partners and one or more limited partners, as well as a corporation with or without limited liability.
Exempted Company
Formed in accordance with theCayman Islands Companies Act, anexempted company’sbusiness activities occur primarily outside of the Cayman Islands.
Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC)
A common form of an exempted company, theSPCstructure allows a company to separate the assets and liabilities held within one portfolio from those held within another and/or from the general assets of the company not attributable to any particular portfolio.
Cayman Islands Unit Trusts
Aunit trustis constituted by a trust instrument in the form of a declaration of trust made by the trustee alone or in the form of a trust deed executed by both the trustee and the manager. Aunit trustwill typically be registered in Cayman with the Registrar of Trusts as an “exempted” trust pursuant to Section 74 of theTrusts Actand thus obtain a tax undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet pursuant to Section 81 of theTrusts Act.
Cayman Islands Investment Funds Counsel
Our lawyers advise on fund formation and structuring in the Cayman Islands, including constitutional and contractual documentation, incorporation, registered office and administration services, regulation and compliance, as well as restructuring, liquidation, insolvency and winding up of funds.
With offices in the major international financial centres of Hong Kong,LondonandSingapore, we are more than able to provide you with strategic and responsive service. We are also well equipped to service the Middle East North Africa market, with lawyers who have thorough expertise and understanding of the region.
