Ogier updates
CIMA releases updated Rule and Statement of Guidance – Cybersecurity for Regulated Entities
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 17 September 2020
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has updated its Rule and Statement of Guidance – Cybersecurity for Regulated Entities following feedback received during a private sector consultation. The rule, which sets out CIMA's requirements in relation to the management of cybersecurity risks, is a clear and precise directive that creates binding obligations, the breach of which may lead to a fine or regulatory action being taken by CIMA.
Probate practice for non-Cayman domiciliaries
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 10 September 2020
When a non-Cayman domiciliary dies owning Cayman assets, such as shares in a Cayman Islands company and interests in Cayman Islands funds, the transmission of such Cayman estate is governed by Cayman Islands law and a grant of representation issued by the Grand Court is usually required. This article deals with the procedures and documentation required to secure a Cayman grant for the estate of a non-Cayman domiciliary and highlights the pitfalls of which practitioners should be mindful.
Recognition of UK insolvency practitioners in Jersey
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 10 September 2020
In the current COVID-19 environment, more businesses will likely become insolvent, some of which will have an interest in Jersey property. Insolvency practitioners appointed outside Jersey in respect of an overseas person or company (or Jersey company subject to English insolvency proceedings) must be recognised in Jersey before they can deal with certain forms of Jersey property. This is because Jersey immoveable property can be transacted only by passing a contract before the Royal Court.
Restructuring – current state of play
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 03 September 2020
At the recent Chambers Economic Forum, the Cayman government announced its intention to bring in a much-anticipated new regime governing corporate restructuring by the end of 2020. Until then, with the COVID-19 pandemic pushing many groups into the zone of insolvency, a number of considerations remain relevant to structures involving a Cayman entity.
Jersey listed funds
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 03 September 2020
The Jersey listed fund regime was introduced for listed closed-ended companies further to the Listed Fund Guide issued by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. The structure, which is modelled on the Jersey expert fund, provides for a fast-track process for the establishment of corporate closed-ended funds that are listed on recognised stock exchanges or markets and regulated pursuant to the Collective Investment Funds (Jersey) Law 1988.
Resilience and sustainability in a changed environment
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 03 September 2020
As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, every industry must take stock and evaluate the changes that are here to stay and the adaptations required to suit the new environment. This article examines the developments in and resilience of Guernsey's funds industry. Notably, it is clear that the government continues to support the funds industry and recognises the importance that private equity and sustainable finance play in the longevity of Guernsey as a financial centre.
Migration of foreign limited partnerships into Guernsey
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 20 August 2020
The States of Guernsey has adopted regulations permitting foreign limited partnerships to migrate or continue into Guernsey using the statutory migration process set out in the Limited Partnerships (Guernsey) (Migration) Regulations 2020. In conjunction with the fast-track process for the licensing of managers, Guernsey now provides an expedient and streamlined process for migrating fund structures into the jurisdiction.
Court of Appeal re-examines master-feeder redemption procedures
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 20 August 2020
The Court of Appeal recently reiterated the importance of following the natural and ordinary meaning of a fund's articles in order to ensure that redemptions are effective. This is particularly important in the context of a master-feeder fund structure. Although the decision is consistent with longstanding authority, it does highlight the importance of ensuring that the redemption procedures set out in a master fund's articles are strictly adhered to as a matter of practice.
Healthy interest in Jersey private equity
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 20 August 2020
In a news cycle that can seem relentlessly gloomy, there are some positive stories to be told and the increased activity in private equity is one of them. This article looks beyond the financial services industry at the wider social and economic benefits of this growth. For instance, private equity is becoming increasingly active in the medical and healthcare sector, which, in turn, has led to a large number of private equity investments in areas such as technology, software and data.
Investment funds update: Q2 2020
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 13 August 2020
Over the past quarter, the Cayman Islands enacted a number of changes to laws and regulations which affect, or will affect, Cayman funds, including with respect to the Private Funds Law, the administrative fines regime, disclosure requirements and the automatic exchange of information portal. This article is intended as a handy reference guide with respect to the recent changes and updates.
Directors' duties and corporate governance
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 13 August 2020
Directors' duties are the duties owed by executive and non-executive directors to the companies to which they are appointed and are personal to each director. By comparison, corporate governance is the collection of principles and practices surrounding how a company is operated and is the collective responsibility of the board of directors as a whole rather than each individual personally.
Secured lending in Guernsey
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 06 August 2020
Guernsey entities continue to be popular in asset-holding structures and, accordingly, lenders are regularly asked to put in place financing arrangements involving Guernsey entities. This article provides an overview of the mechanism under Guernsey law for the creation and enforcement of security over certain Guernsey-situated assets, such as the shares in a Guernsey company, certain contract rights and monies in a Guernsey bank account.
Administrative fines regime extended
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 06 August 2020
The Monetary Authority (Administrative Fines) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 recently came into force, extending the administrative fines regime beyond breaches of the Anti-money Laundering Regulations to a much broader spectrum of breaches under various Cayman regulatory laws. Of particular interest to Cayman bank licensees will be how breaches of the Banks and Trust Companies Law will be treated under the regulations.
Migration of foreign limited partnerships into Jersey
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 30 July 2020
New regulations permit foreign limited partnerships to migrate (ie, continue) into Jersey using the statutory migration process set out in the Limited Partnerships (Continuance) (Jersey) Regulations. The application process for continuance is straightforward and includes the submission of a declaration signed by the general partner of the foreign limited partnership that the partnership meets the eligibility criteria and an application for a consent in respect of the partnership under the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order.
Practical comparison between two of Guernsey's most flexible regulated fund products
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 30 July 2020
This article provides a practical comparison between two of Guernsey's most flexible regulated fund products: the registered collective investment scheme (registered schemes) and the private investment fund (PIFs). Both registered schemes and PIFs are used across all fund types and asset bases – from private equity funds investing in sustainable energy to hedge funds investing in smart technology.
ODPA announces extension of exemption registration in Guernsey
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Guernsey
- 23 July 2020
Every controller and processor of data must comply with the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2017. However, certain exemptions mean that there is currently no need for some data controllers or processors to register with the Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA). The ODPA has announced that any party which is currently exempt from the legal requirement to register will now continue to be exempt until January 2021.
Insolvency and restructuring: segregated portfolio companies
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 23 July 2020
May 2020 marked the 22nd anniversary of the Cayman Islands segregated portfolio company (SPC). This article reflects on the first two decades of the SPC – in particular, the principles established by the courts concerning insolvent SPCs. These cases have posed some interesting and novel questions for the Cayman courts to resolve and the decisions have fleshed out the statutory provisions as regards the status, duties and powers of office holders appointed in connection with SPCs.
Testing times for data privacy
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 23 July 2020
Data privacy has been high on the 2020 agenda. Its relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly the bulky portion of an iceberg that skulks beneath troubled socioeconomic waters. With life having changed dramatically, this article reflects on how data issues have been brought to the fore as part of the response to COVID-19.
Intermeddling offence: revised guidelines issued
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Jersey
- 16 July 2020
In Jersey, it is a criminal offence to take possession or in any way administer the movable estate of a deceased person before a grant of probate has been obtained (the intermeddling offence). Her Majesty's attorney general is responsible for deciding whether to commence criminal proceedings in Jersey, including for the intermeddling offence. The need to comply with Jersey's probate requirements was underscored by the recent conviction of two financial services firms for intermeddling.
New regulatory regime for virtual assets
Ogier- Private Client & Offshore Services
- Cayman Islands
- 16 July 2020
The Cayman Islands recently introduced a new framework for regulating virtual asset businesses: the Virtual Assets (Service Providers) Law 2020. The law derives from recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force and provides for the regulation of virtual asset businesses and the registration and licensing of persons which provide virtual asset services. In addition, the government has amended a number of existing laws to extend to virtual assets.
