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Offshore fund

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604:), and non-public funds. Non-public funds are usually either categorised as private funds or professional funds or some equivalent label. Typically, investors in non-public funds can be assumed to be sophisticated because of the nature of the offering – there may, for example, be a high minimum initial investment, say US$ 100,000, and/or a requirement that investors establish that they are "professional investors" (although some offshore jurisdictions allow investors to self-certify this). Alternatively the fund may be designed for a small and select group of investors and the constitutional documents will limit the number of investors, say to no more than 50. Although most offshore jurisdictions permit funds to obtain licences to operate as public funds, the onerous regulatory requirements associated with such licences usually means that only a small minority of offshore funds are available for subscription by the general public. 638:
from taxes which may arise as a result of its investment activities in other countries. So, for example, if a fund formed in the Cayman Islands realises a capital gain on trade in New York, it will still normally be liable for U.S. capital gains tax in the usual way. Similarly, if a person domiciled in the United Kingdom invests in a Guernsey fund, they will still be liable to taxation of income and capital gains received under British tax laws (subject to the rules on remittance of foreign earned income), notwithstanding the absence of any taxation imposed in Guernsey.
17: 1355: 1363: 158:(AUM). However, different sources may vary in relation to market share according to (i) which jurisdictions are considered to be "offshore" and which types of collective investment schemes are included. In relation to hedge funds (the archetypal offshore fund product) Cayman has a dominant market share. 145:
Most jurisdictions also require that offshore funds submit audited accounts to the regulatory annually. Almost all jurisdictions require directors of offshore funds to satisfy regulatory criteria in relation to fit and proper persons, but some jurisdictions also require directors to be separately
88:
Although the term is often used as a simply descriptive one, many onshore countries have specific definitions in their legislation or their tax codes for when an investment is treated as an offshore fund. For example, in the United Kingdom see the Offshore Funds (Tax) Regulations 2009, and in the
637:
Typically the offshore jurisdiction in which a fund is incorporated will not impose any direct taxation on the income of the fund. Nor will it impose any withholding or similar income taxes on distributions by the fund to its investors. However, this does not normally operate to exempt the fund
646:
Different onshore countries treat income arising from offshore funds in different ways. US citizens are generally subject to taxation on foreign earned investment income regardless of where they live in the world and where the income is remitted to. Under British tax rules, the taxability of
141:
In certain cases exemptions will be available. For example, feeder funds in a master-feeder structure are often exempted from the requirement to appoint a custodian, and the requirement to maintain a custodian may be waived where the prime broker also fulfils the role of custodian.
650:
There is a public perception that offshore investment funds are responsible for tax leakage in relation to cross border investment, and various laws have been passed by various countries shaped by that belief. Probably the best example of that is the American
85:(where the investor cannot redeem out), and funds where the investment is structured by way of debt, are not normally subject to the usual regulatory requirements for investments funds, and so are not treated as funds in the stricter sense of that word. 607:
Most offshore domiciling of funds tends to be regulatory driven rather than tax driven. The relative absence of regulation relating to leveraging and investment strategies in offshore jurisdictions encourages higher risk funds, such as
599:
Typically, the regulatory regime will take a two tier approach, making a distinction between funds which are offered generally to members of the public (which will require a high degree of regulation because of the nature of potential
918:
See for example, in the Cayman Islands, see the Mutual Funds Law, and in the British Virgin Islands, see the Securities and Investment Business Act 2010, each of which applies a three-tier regulatory approach in this
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In addition to the fund itself, most offshore funds are required by local regulations to have various functionaries most of whom are also required to be licensed under applicable legislation. These include:
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Similarly, although the reference to fund can be taken to include any sort of collective investment, within offshore jurisdictions themselves, the term offshore fund is often limited to purely
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Increasingly, economically developed countries are imposing direct regulation on offshore funds who wish to market to investors in those countries. The most recent example of this is the
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to the British Overseas Territories (including popular offshore fund domiciles like the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands). The most recent (and ongoing) example is the
372:
Figures for private equity funds, an investment product with similar liquidity constraints, are markedly different, with Delaware enjoying over half the market on either measure.
81:(i.e. a fund where the investor can redeem his investment during the life of the fund) where the investment is by way of equity (rather than by debt). This is often because 660: 886: 853: 21: 70:. In the widest sense, offshore is sometimes used to include any type of cross border collective investment scheme, and popular fund domiciles such as 930: 105:
in the relevant jurisdiction, and investments will characteristically be by way of equitable interest (i.e. shares, partnership interests or units).
624:(AIFMD) which requires funds to comply with extensive rules and regulations in order to be able to market to investors within the European Union. 1089: 982: 621: 751:
For example, in the Cayman Islands, see the Mutual Funds Law (2013 Revision), section 2 (definitions of "equity interest" and "mutual fund").
1049: 62:. However, the term is also frequently used to include other corporate domiciles popular for cross border investment structuring, such as 1358: 596:
Most developed offshore jurisdictions provide a broadly similar regulatory regime in relation to funds formed in their country.
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foreign earned income depends upon the domicile of the tax payer and whether the funds are remitted to the United Kingdom.
975: 47:", the term is more descriptive than definitive, and both the words 'offshore' and 'fund' may be construed differently. 652: 893: 860: 828: 783: 1366: 1186: 1116: 968: 656: 50:
The reference to offshore, in the classic case, usually means a traditional offshore jurisdiction such as the
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may be included within the definition of offshore, notwithstanding their substantial size as a country.
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See for example Securities and Investment Business Act 2010, section 61(1) (British Virgin Islands).
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Market share in offshore funds is normally measured either by number of funds or
132: 82: 1280: 1191: 1181: 449: 423: 199: 191: 126: 51: 36: 1379: 1276: 1241: 1126: 1101: 1029: 710: 78: 1327: 1272: 1079: 663:
which almost every major offshore fund domicile has agreed to be bound by.
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has responsibility for oversight of investment funds in that jurisdiction.
1301: 1059: 680: 557: 549: 353: 343: 960: 1166: 1136: 1044: 1034: 609: 485: 459: 307: 299: 102: 67: 601: 101:, partnership - typically a limited partnership - or (less commonly) 655:(FATCA). But earlier examples also included the application of the 89:
United States see section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
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Cayman Islands Director Registration and Licensing Law (2014)
672: 661:
Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters
575: 567: 361: 281: 784:"US Regulatory and Tax Considerations for Offshore Funds" 137:(in certain jurisdictions) an authorised representative 675:(an NGO), alleged that they are a main player of the 385: 382: 171: 168: 22:
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission
1377: 1090:Qualifying investor alternative investment fund 622:Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive 976: 612:, to form themselves in those jurisdictions. 1050:Labour-sponsored venture capital corporation 377:Offshore private equity funds - market share 149: 97:Most offshore funds are formed as either an 887:"Domiciles of Alternative Investment Funds" 854:"Domiciles of Alternative Investment Funds" 1362: 983: 969: 928: 990: 892:. Oliver Wyman. p. 4. Archived from 859:. Oliver Wyman. p. 3. Archived from 396: 390: 182: 176: 15: 762:"Offshore Funds (Tax) Regulations 2009" 399: 393: 185: 179: 1378: 936:. Tax Adviser Magazine. Archived from 964: 817:British Virgin Islands Commercial Law 683:, in particular through the usage of 731:"Offshore Mutual Fund - definition" 163:Offshore hedge funds - market share 13: 653:Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act 14: 1407: 1361: 1354: 1353: 922: 912: 1187:Socially responsible investing 1117:Split capital investment trust 879: 846: 837: 809: 800: 776: 754: 745: 723: 657:European Union withholding tax 92: 1: 1075:Open-ended investment company 929:Ray Magill (September 2011). 716: 701:Collective investment schemes 632: 586: 83:closed-ended investment funds 1333:Returns-based style analysis 1096:Real estate investment trust 931:"Taxation of offshore funds" 666: 641: 579: 571: 561: 553: 543: 535: 525: 517: 507: 499: 489: 481: 471: 463: 453: 445: 435: 427: 417: 409: 365: 357: 347: 339: 329: 321: 311: 303: 293: 285: 275: 267: 257: 249: 239: 231: 221: 213: 203: 195: 34:collective investment scheme 7: 1268:Efficient-market hypothesis 694: 627: 591: 79:open-ended investment funds 10: 1412: 1107:Short-term investment fund 706:Offshore Financial Centres 615: 1351: 1310: 1255: 1214: 1150: 1055:Listed investment company 1024:Fonds commun de placement 998: 150:Global market/world share 1263:Arbitrage pricing theory 909:. Figures are for 2010. 876:. Figures are for 2010. 1338:Traditional investments 1323:Commodity pool operator 1297:Noisy market hypothesis 1292:Modern portfolio theory 1142:Unitised insurance fund 1070:Open-ended fund company 1012:Common contractual fund 156:assets under management 1318:Alternative investment 1232:Institutional investor 540:British Virgin Islands 532:British Virgin Islands 236:British Virgin Islands 228:British Virgin Islands 60:British Virgin Islands 25: 1132:Unit investment trust 992:Investment management 679:, allowing legalized 41:offshore jurisdiction 19: 1122:Tax transparent fund 1018:Exchange-traded fund 823:. 2012. para 6.077. 1177:Manager of managers 1085:Private-equity fund 821:Sweet & Maxwell 677:underground economy 379: 165: 1287:Martingale pricing 1197:Thematic investing 1162:passive management 685:shell corporations 375: 161: 43:. Like the term " 26: 1373: 1372: 1151:Investment styles 671:Critics, such as 584: 583: 370: 369: 1403: 1391:Offshore finance 1386:Investment funds 1365: 1364: 1357: 1356: 1206:growth investing 1172:Impact investing 1040:Investment trust 985: 978: 971: 962: 961: 952: 951: 949: 948: 942: 935: 926: 920: 916: 910: 908: 906: 904: 898: 891: 883: 877: 875: 873: 871: 865: 858: 850: 844: 841: 835: 834: 819:(2nd ed.). 813: 807: 804: 798: 797: 795: 793: 788: 780: 774: 773: 771: 769: 758: 752: 749: 743: 742: 740: 738: 727: 689:transfer pricing 380: 374: 166: 160: 99:offshore company 45:offshore company 1411: 1410: 1406: 1405: 1404: 1402: 1401: 1400: 1376: 1375: 1374: 1369: 1347: 1306: 1251: 1247:Performance fee 1237:Net asset value 1227:Fund governance 1222:Closed-end fund 1210: 1146: 1003: 1001: 994: 989: 958: 956: 955: 946: 944: 940: 933: 927: 923: 917: 913: 902: 900: 899:on 14 July 2014 896: 889: 885: 884: 880: 869: 867: 866:on 14 July 2014 863: 856: 852: 851: 847: 842: 838: 831: 815: 814: 810: 805: 801: 791: 789: 786: 782: 781: 777: 767: 765: 760: 759: 755: 750: 746: 736: 734: 729: 728: 724: 719: 697: 669: 644: 635: 630: 618: 594: 589: 152: 95: 32:is generally a 12: 11: 5: 1409: 1399: 1398: 1396:Legal entities 1393: 1388: 1371: 1370: 1352: 1349: 1348: 1346: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1320: 1314: 1312: 1311:Related topics 1308: 1307: 1305: 1304: 1299: 1294: 1289: 1284: 1270: 1265: 1259: 1257: 1253: 1252: 1250: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1234: 1229: 1224: 1218: 1216: 1212: 1211: 1209: 1208: 1199: 1194: 1192:Social trading 1189: 1184: 1182:Social finance 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1154: 1152: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1119: 1114: 1109: 1104: 1099: 1093: 1087: 1082: 1077: 1072: 1067: 1062: 1057: 1052: 1047: 1042: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1021: 1015: 1008: 1006: 996: 995: 988: 987: 980: 973: 965: 954: 953: 921: 911: 878: 845: 836: 829: 808: 799: 775: 753: 744: 733:. Investopedia 721: 720: 718: 715: 714: 713: 708: 703: 696: 693: 668: 665: 643: 640: 634: 631: 629: 626: 617: 614: 593: 590: 588: 585: 582: 581: 578: 573: 570: 564: 563: 560: 555: 552: 546: 545: 542: 537: 534: 528: 527: 524: 519: 516: 510: 509: 506: 501: 498: 492: 491: 488: 483: 480: 474: 473: 470: 465: 462: 456: 455: 452: 450:Cayman Islands 447: 444: 438: 437: 434: 429: 426: 424:Cayman Islands 420: 419: 416: 411: 408: 402: 401: 398: 395: 392: 388: 387: 384: 368: 367: 364: 359: 356: 350: 349: 346: 341: 338: 332: 331: 328: 323: 320: 314: 313: 310: 305: 302: 296: 295: 292: 287: 284: 278: 277: 274: 269: 266: 260: 259: 256: 251: 248: 242: 241: 238: 233: 230: 224: 223: 220: 215: 212: 206: 205: 202: 200:Cayman Islands 197: 194: 192:Cayman Islands 188: 187: 184: 181: 178: 174: 173: 170: 151: 148: 139: 138: 135: 129: 123: 117: 94: 91: 52:Cayman Islands 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1408: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1387: 1384: 1383: 1381: 1368: 1360: 1350: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1319: 1316: 1315: 1313: 1309: 1303: 1300: 1298: 1295: 1293: 1290: 1288: 1285: 1282: 1278: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1260: 1258: 1254: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1242:Open-end fund 1240: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1219: 1217: 1213: 1207: 1203: 1200: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1159: 1156: 1155: 1153: 1149: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1127:Umbrella fund 1125: 1123: 1120: 1118: 1115: 1113: 1110: 1108: 1105: 1103: 1102:Royalty trust 1100: 1097: 1094: 1091: 1088: 1086: 1083: 1081: 1078: 1076: 1073: 1071: 1068: 1066: 1065:Offshore fund 1063: 1061: 1058: 1056: 1053: 1051: 1048: 1046: 1043: 1041: 1038: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1030:Fund of funds 1028: 1025: 1022: 1019: 1016: 1013: 1010: 1009: 1007: 1005: 997: 993: 986: 981: 979: 974: 972: 967: 966: 963: 959: 943:on 2014-10-06 939: 932: 925: 915: 895: 888: 882: 862: 855: 849: 840: 832: 830:9789626614792 826: 822: 818: 812: 803: 785: 779: 763: 757: 748: 732: 726: 722: 712: 711:Offshore 2020 709: 707: 704: 702: 699: 698: 692: 690: 686: 682: 678: 674: 664: 662: 658: 654: 648: 639: 625: 623: 613: 611: 605: 603: 597: 577: 574: 569: 566: 565: 559: 556: 551: 548: 547: 541: 538: 533: 530: 529: 523: 520: 515: 512: 511: 505: 502: 497: 494: 493: 487: 484: 479: 476: 475: 469: 466: 461: 458: 457: 451: 448: 443: 440: 439: 433: 430: 425: 422: 421: 415: 412: 407: 404: 403: 397:Jurisdiction 391:Jurisdiction 389: 383:No. of Funds 381: 378: 373: 363: 360: 355: 352: 351: 345: 342: 337: 334: 333: 327: 324: 319: 316: 315: 309: 306: 301: 298: 297: 291: 288: 283: 280: 279: 273: 270: 265: 262: 261: 255: 252: 247: 244: 243: 237: 234: 229: 226: 225: 219: 216: 211: 208: 207: 201: 198: 193: 190: 189: 183:Jurisdiction 177:Jurisdiction 175: 169:No. of Funds 167: 164: 159: 157: 147: 143: 136: 134: 130: 128: 124: 122: 118: 116: 115:administrator 112: 111: 110: 106: 104: 100: 90: 86: 84: 80: 75: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 48: 46: 42: 38: 35: 31: 30:offshore fund 23: 18: 1328:Robo-advisor 1273:Fixed income 1204: / 1160: / 1080:Pension fund 1064: 957: 945:. Retrieved 938:the original 924: 914: 901:. Retrieved 894:the original 881: 868:. Retrieved 861:the original 848: 839: 816: 811: 802: 790:. Retrieved 778: 766:. Retrieved 756: 747: 735:. Retrieved 725: 670: 649: 645: 636: 619: 606: 598: 595: 376: 371: 162: 153: 144: 140: 133:prime broker 107: 96: 87: 76: 49: 29: 27: 1302:Yield curve 1215:Terminology 1167:Hedge Funds 1060:Mutual fund 1000:Investment 687:practicing 681:tax evasion 610:hedge funds 558:Isle of Man 550:Isle of Man 354:Isle of Man 344:Isle of Man 93:Structuring 1380:Categories 1137:Unit trust 1045:Hedge fund 1035:Index fund 1004:structures 947:2014-10-01 717:References 587:Regulation 486:Luxembourg 460:Luxembourg 308:Luxembourg 300:Luxembourg 146:licensed. 103:unit trust 68:Luxembourg 1281:Convexity 792:1 October 768:1 October 737:1 October 667:Criticism 602:investors 127:custodian 37:domiciled 1359:Category 1277:Duration 695:See also 633:Offshore 628:Taxation 592:Offshore 442:Guernsey 432:Guernsey 414:Delaware 406:Delaware 336:Guernsey 326:Guernsey 218:Delaware 210:Delaware 64:Delaware 1092:(QIAIF) 919:manner. 903:13 July 870:13 July 642:Onshore 616:Onshore 580:<1% 572:<1% 562:<1% 554:<1% 544:<1% 536:<1% 526:<1% 522:Bermuda 518:<1% 514:Bermuda 504:Ireland 496:Ireland 366:<1% 358:<1% 348:<1% 340:<1% 330:<1% 290:Ireland 272:Bermuda 264:Bermuda 246:Ireland 121:manager 72:Ireland 58:or the 1256:Theory 1158:Active 1098:(REIT) 827:  764:. HMSO 478:Jersey 468:Jersey 318:Jersey 254:Jersey 56:Jersey 39:in an 1343:UCITS 1202:Value 1112:SICAV 1026:(FCP) 1020:(ETF) 1014:(CCF) 941:(PDF) 934:(PDF) 897:(PDF) 890:(PDF) 864:(PDF) 857:(PDF) 787:(PDF) 673:ATTAC 576:Malta 568:Malta 400:%age 394:%age 362:Malta 282:Malta 186:%age 180:%age 1367:List 1002:fund 905:2014 872:2014 825:ISBN 794:2014 770:2014 739:2014 454:11% 436:11% 428:11% 418:72% 410:64% 386:AUM 240:11% 232:10% 222:22% 214:20% 204:52% 196:45% 172:AUM 66:and 20:The 508:1% 500:3% 490:4% 482:6% 472:5% 464:9% 446:7% 322:2% 312:3% 304:4% 294:3% 286:5% 276:4% 268:6% 258:5% 250:8% 113:an 28:An 1382:: 1279:, 691:. 131:a 125:a 119:a 54:, 1283:) 1275:( 984:e 977:t 970:v 950:. 907:. 874:. 833:. 796:. 772:. 741:.

Index


British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission
collective investment scheme
domiciled
offshore jurisdiction
offshore company
Cayman Islands
Jersey
British Virgin Islands
Delaware
Luxembourg
Ireland
open-ended investment funds
closed-ended investment funds
offshore company
unit trust
administrator
manager
custodian
prime broker
assets under management
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
Delaware
Delaware
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Ireland
Jersey
Bermuda

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