Guernsey Authorised Fund
Guernsey Authorised Fund Key Features
Key Features
If a vehicle established in Guernsey satisfies the criteria for a “collective investment scheme” (see below) or “fund”, it must either be registered or authorised by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (“GFSC”) and no Guernsey-licensed entity can provide services to such a vehicle without it being so registered or authorised.
The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987, as amended (the “POI Law”) creates two categories of Guernsey fund:
Tax Treatment
There is no capital, value added or inheritance taxes in Guernsey, nor any stamp or document duties except in respect of Guernsey real property.
With the exception of certain businesses, companies (including funds) now pay a standard rate of 0% income tax on profits. Funds still have the option to apply for exempt company status (on payment of an annual fee of £600).
Duration to Set Up
3 months
Distinctive Benefits of Licence
- authorised collective investment schemes; and
- registered collective investment schemes.
- Class B: the most popular open-ended structure typically established for marketing to institutions and high net worth/sophisticated investors. The rules applying to Class B scheme documents and administration are less comprehensive than those applying to Class A schemes; or
- Class A: eligible for marketing to the general public in the UK and certain other jurisdictions. There are comprehensive rules which regulate the documents by which a Class A scheme is established, the content of the relevant scheme particulars, the general administration of the scheme and the investment parameters; or
- Class Q: restricted to qualifying professional investors. The rules governing such schemes are less prescriptive than those for Class A and Class B schemes and a fast-track approval process should be available.
Requirements |
Description |
General |
|
|
Jersey Company, Incorporated cell company (ICC) or a Protected cell company (PCC), Limited Partnership, Unit trust |
|
No |
Share capital or equivalent |
|
|
None |
|
None |
Directors |
|
|
1 |
|
Yes |
|
No |
Service Providers Required |
|
|
No |
|
Yes |
|
No |
|
Yes |
- Robust yet flexible regulatory environment
- Professional infrastructure and quality of workplace
- Tax neutrality and Tax Exchange Agreements
- End to end comprehensive service
- Speedy and efficient service
- Expert advice on structuring options
- Dedicated ongoing compliance support
- Extensive network pool of service providers