Bermuda's financial regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority, takes a risk-based approach to regulating and supervising the entities for which it is responsible, including investment funds, investment providers, fund administrators, trust companies, insurers and banks. 

As family offices look for the best jurisdictions in which to establish trusts and wealth preservation vehicles, being able to benchmark the institutional quality of a specific jurisdiction and rely on high-quality outsourcing options, are increasingly important considerations. The following report provides an overview of how and why Bermuda is living up to these expectations. 

Dechert’s Matthew Kerfoot (pictured) comments on FSB’s newly issued Policy Recommendations on the use of leverage by investment funds…

With its ideal geographical position at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia, Cyprus plays a key role in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean. As a safe, transparent, modern business centre, the island is an ideal investment gateway to the European Union, as well as a portal for investment outside the EU, particularly into the Middle East, India and China.

By Donnacha O’Connor (pictured), Partner at Dillon Eustace – Ireland has a well-established reputation as a leading funds centre, being home to 6,470 regulated investment funds as of December 2016 according to the Central Bank of Ireland, and as a leading fund servicing centre.

Locate Jersey is part of the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture department within the Jersey Government (`States of Jersey'). Headed up by Director of International Trade, Wayne Gallichan (pictured), the role of Locate Jersey is to promote Jersey as a place to do business and to attract suitable businesses to the island, as well as HNW individuals; particularly those that are still economically active. 

Since 2012, the BVI has introduced three exciting and innovative investment fund products, namely: the BVI Approved Manager, the BVI Incubator Fund and the BVI Approved Fund. The Approved Manager was introduced at the end of 2012, followed by the Incubator Fund and Approved Fund in mid-2015, and each has been growing steadily since their launch. Currently, there are 140 Approved Managers, 21 Incubator Funds and 29 Approved Funds, based on figures published by the BVI Financial Services Commission (as of 30 September 2016). 

Q&A with Ivan Grech, Head of Business Development, FinanceMalta & Anatoli Grech, Executive Secretary of the Malta Funds Industry Association.

In a world where uncertainty appears to be replacing certainty, Guernsey is underlining its inherent stability amidst the changes that are affecting the regulatory, commercial and political realms. 

By Ras Sipko, KOGER – For the past four years, alternative fund managers with US investors have been coming to terms with the far-reaching effects of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA. Some 60-plus countries have signed up to cooperate with the IRS in order to enforce FATCA and this year the compliance burden is set to grow yet again. On 31st May 2017, fund managers will have to submit their first filing under the OECD Common Reporting Standards initiative, which can best be thought of as global FATCA or 'GATCA'.