Jersey limited partnerships

Overview
Formation
Confidentiality
Liability
Flexibility in contributing and returning capital
Regulatory treatment
Taxation
Record keeping and filings

Overview

Limited partnerships in Jersey are governed by the Limited Partnerships (Jersey) Law 1994, as amended.

The main feature of limited partnerships, as the name suggests, is the limited liability afforded to the limited partners. In addition, the law is highly flexible, such that the partners in a Jersey limited partnership are free to agree the terms attaching to the structure and operation of the partnership between them. For this reason, Jersey limited partnerships are popular vehicles and common uses include:

• investment funds and, in particular, private equity and venture capital vehicles;
• real estate holding, development and investment structures;
• asset holding vehicles for families; and
• profit-sharing, employee incentive or carried interest vehicles.

Limited partnerships are also often used for tax and financial planning purposes because they are tax transparent, ensuring tax neutrality for the limited partners who are subject to tax in accordance with the rules of their own jurisdictions (see below).

Formation

A limited partnership which attracts no regulatory overlay can be established on a same-day basis or within one to two working days. The limited partnership must comprise at least one general partner and one limited partner. In order to register a limited partnership, the general partner must submit a signed declaration of limited partnership containing certain prescribed details, as well as the duly completed establishment forms and the registration fee, to the Registrar of Limited Partnerships. On registration of a limited partnership, the registrar will issue a registration certificate and a consent under the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 for the creation of partnership interests in the limited partnership.

Depending on the nature of the proposed activities of the limited partnership (see regulatory treatment below), there may be a regulatory requirement to have a Jersey-based general partner. However, the law itself does not require a general partner to be resident or incorporated in Jersey. There is no restriction on the number of limited partners in a Jersey limited partnership.

Confidentiality

There is no requirement to file details of the names of the limited partners in the partnership declaration or establishment forms, nor do limited partnerships file annual returns with the Registrar. The identity of the limited partners in a Jersey limited partnership are not, therefore, a matter of public record. Further, while limited partners have a right to inspect and make copies of the limited partnership records, these are not subject to public inspection and there is no requirement to file the partnership agreement with the registrar.

Liability

The general partner is liable for all of the debts and obligations of the limited partnership. The limited partners' liability is limited to the amount that they have committed to contribute to the partnership. Limited partners may lose their limited liability where the limited partner participates in the management of the limited partnership in its dealings with third parties that reasonably believe the limited partner to be the general partner of the partnership. Helpfully, there are extensive safe harbour provisions in the law comprising a non-exhaustive list of activities which a limited partner may participate in or carry out and which do not constitute participating in the management of the partnership, including:

• being an agent or employee of the limited partnership or the general partner;
• acting as a director, officer or shareholder of the general partner;
• consulting with and advising the general partner with respect to the activities of the limited partnership;
• approving or disapproving an amendment to the partnership agreement; and
• voting on or otherwise approving or disapproving certain matters including:
  • the dissolution or winding up of the limited partnership;
  • dealing in any asset of the limited partnership;
  • a change in the nature of the activities of the limited partnership;
  • the admission, removal or withdrawal of a general partner; and
  • the continuation of the limited partnership thereafter.

Flexibility in contributing and returning capital

A limited partner can contribute capital to the limited partnership in the form of money, any property or services. The law does not prescribe how contributions are made, drawn down or returned to limited partners during the life of the limited partnership and the partners are free to agree such terms, as well as those relating to distributions from the partnership within the partnership agreement. Distributions from the partnership are made subject to a solvency test. Notably, the law provides for a clawback mechanism, which applies for a six-month period following distribution should a partner receive a distribution at a time when the partnership is insolvent or became insolvent as a result of the payment.

Regulatory treatment

Jersey limited partnerships are commonly used as private funds or public collective investment funds. In such cases, the requirements of the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law 1988, the Jersey Private Fund Guide and the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998 will be relevant and advice should be taken at an early stage in the structuring of the fund. Accordingly, an application will need to be made for the issue of a certificate or consent in connection with the partnership pursuant to the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law or, as applicable, Jersey Private Fund Guide and the general partner and other Jersey-based service providers to the limited partnership may need to register for the conduct of fund services business in Jersey pursuant to the Financial Services (Jersey) Law, unless exemptions to such registration apply.(1)

Taxation

Limited partnerships are not legal persons and are therefore not taxable entities for the purposes of Jersey tax. Limited partners are subject to tax in accordance with the rules of their country of residence. Accordingly, non-Jersey tax resident limited partners in a Jersey limited partnership are not subject to Jersey income tax or any withholding tax on their share of partnership profits or gains arising from business or investment activities carried on outside Jersey. This is one of the reasons why limited partnerships are popular investment fund vehicles for tax-exempt institutional investors.

Record keeping and filings

A limited partnership must maintain certain statutory records at its registered office. However, as mentioned above, the records are private and may be inspected and copied only by partners. Further, while the partnership must keep accounting records, there is no requirement for an auditor to be appointed (subject to any contrary provision in the limited partnership agreement and in the context of most investment funds). There is no obligation to file annual returns with the registrar; however, an annual administration fee is payable to the registrar.

For further information on this topic please contact Emily Haithwaite or Niamh Lalor at Ogier's Jersey office by telephone (+44 1534 514 000) or email (emily.haithwaite@ogier.com or niamh.lalor@ogier.com). Alternatively, contact Tara Kapur at Ogier's Luxembourg office by telephone (+352 2712 2000) or email (tara.kapur@ogier.com).The Ogier website can be accessed at www.ogier.com.

(1) For further information on the Jersey regulatory options for funds please see www.ogier.com/publications/jersey-investment-funds-regulatory-options.